Point Park Launches New Tradition with Two Days of Fun at Welcome Back Bash Tuesday, February 3, 2026
"It was really great seeing individuals at all levels of the university come together to just have fun.”
Point Park University kicked off the new year with a new tradition, connecting the entire campus community at the Welcome Back Bash. Fun and meaningful events, such as a prom, dodgeball, bingo, a movie night and a breakfast honoring Martin Luther King Jr., were scheduled over two days just before classes started.
“Last year, coming back after winter break, from what I can recall, it was dreary and took me a moment to get back into the swing of things,” said Sawyer York, a sophomore creative writing major. “But being back this year with things like this was fun!”
Margaret Hinnebusch, assistant to the president, oversaw the planning of the weekend events.
“With it being cold in Pittsburgh, we wanted to create a series of events that give students a reason to get out of their dorms and celebrate the start of the semester,” she said.
Student Life and the Student Government Association (SGA) assisted in planning. Faculty and staff were invited to participate throughout the weekend as well.
“Having staff and faculty volunteer for the Bash allowed them and the students to get to know one another better and help strengthen the university experience for everyone," said Hinnebusch. "It was really great seeing individuals at all levels of the university come together to just have fun.”
One such example was the staff vs. students dodgeball game on Sunday afternoon. Members of the women's lacrosse, soccer and softball teams went head-to-head against staff members, including Point Park police officers.
Presley Masters, a junior criminal justice major, described the atmosphere in the gym as "exciting," noting that people on the sidelines cheered and got invested in the competition.
Masters said that the dodgeball game was especially enjoyable because it was nostalgic: “It reminded me of when I would play dodgeball in elementary school, and I think that is also what added to the event being so fun and uplifting for me, as well as a lot of girls on the women’s lacrosse team. Before the event, we were talking about all the memories of elementary P.E class and how this reminded us of those times.”
“I feel like it made us all just remember that it is okay to have fun," Masters said. "And that college doesn’t have to be scary and serious with exams and homework!”
That was certainly the message of the Winter Prom: Regency Masquerade Ball, held in the Professional Career Readiness Center's (PCRC) multi-purpose area. Guests donned masks, danced to a DJ and enjoyed appetizers.
Hinnebusch credits the SGA for their work on the prom: “Everyone who came to the prom was really impressed with the transformation of the PCRC into our Bridgerton Masquerade theme. With the wonderful help from the prom planning committee, comprised of our SGA students and other members on campus, the decorations were really impressive!”
In addition to bingo and the movie screening, York and his girlfriend attended the prom. "Seeing her and some of my peers all dressed up was nice," he said.
Hinnebusch hopes to see this new tradition grow in future years.
More About: Student Government Association, creative writing, criminal justice, Student Life