Send-off Parties

For nearly 50 years, get-togethers around the globe aim to welcome first-year students to the Blue Devil community

The word, DUKE," is capitalized and illuminated by round white bulbs inside of the letters. The sign is flanked by blue and white balloons that add to the festive occasion.

This is a summary of a story written by Adriana V. DiFranco on MADE FOR THIS: The Duke Campaign.

It’s a wonderful Duke-centric moment: For at least a half-century, university alumni and parents host Send-Off parties across country and around the globe to welcome first-year students and their families to the Blue Devil community.

The parties began in the 1970s and were formally recognized by the university in 2002.

Duke grads Brendan and Cynthia Moylan hosted a Send-Off party this month at their Durham home, just days before the school’s high-octane move-in day for first-year students.

In addition to private homes, the parties happen in backyards, restaurants, and clubhouses, among other locations including parks, hotels and even the bucolic Western Residence for North Carolina’s governor in Asheville. 

This month’s nearly 60 parties took place in seven countries, from Baltimore to Beijing; from Seoul, South Korea, to Bengaluru, India, with hundreds of transfer students, first-year students and their families in attendance.

The parties have emerged as a vital link that connects new students to their Duke network even before they arrive on campus. 

“At some point during those first few days at Duke, everyone feels alone,” Brendan Moylan said. “The faster someone feels connected, the sooner the joy begins. A Send-Off Party can accelerate that connection.”

To learn more, visit MADE FOR THIS.