Endless ways to support students’ return to the Triangle

Students are anxiously anticipating their return to colleges and universities across the Triangle. And as they prepare for the upcoming school year, it means numerous events and attractions will return to the area that residents will get to enjoy. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or a lover of the arts, students across Raleigh-Durham are poised to deliver during the upcoming school year.

As students descend upon the area in the next couple of weeks, here are things to consider doing to help support students’ return to the Triangle this August.

It’s hard to live in the Triangle and not know about the outstanding athletics that happen across the region every year. Thanks to Duke’s Blue Devils, UNC’s Tarheels, and NC State’s Wolfpack, you’ll have top-level Division I athletics to enjoy starting immediately in August. These teams kick off the fall school year with soccer, volleyball, field hockey, golf, and cross country. And, of course, if you’re an avid football fan, you won’t want to miss a game — or a tailgate — from any of these teams.

Yet other academic strongholds across the Triangle, including North Carolina Central, Meredith College, William Peace University, and Shaw University bring even more opportunities to support student athletes. Many of these schools are still Division II colleges that provide competitive action and might just make you a fan of all Triangle athletics.

Watch each university’s calendar to see what sports you may want to catch this fall so you can jump into the action.

One of the great things about local universities is the selection of find arts programs they offer to the community. From plays to musical and dance performances to art shows, students begin preparing early in August to showcase their talents through the rest of the school year.

William Peace Theatre provides opportunities for students interested in musical theatre to learn and perform their craft. Meanwhile, American Dance Festival provides students across numerous universities the opportunity to learn and perform with renowned performers, as well as gives you the opportunity to watch some of the best modern dance from across the globe.

You can also enjoy the universities’ arts museums, including the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke, UNC’s Ackland Art Museum, and the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State. Each university also has music programs that allow you to enjoy recitals or band performances at games, too. It’s easy to find something that will spark your creativity once students return to the Triangle.

One of the major benefits of students returning to campuses is the return of lectures, talks, and programs that are designed to educate and enlighten people across the area. Many of these programs begin the moment students step foot on campus, and best of all, they’re open to the public.

Duke wastes no time in providing lectures on numerous topics, and its schools often provide their own lecture series as well that you can check out. Similarly, NC State is dedicated to bringing high-quality speakers to campus each year. And UNC’s Abbey Speaker Series brings many experts from different disciplines to campus, all of which are free to the public.

Even smaller colleges like Meredith have been known to bring distinguished speakers to discuss global events. William Peace provides lunch and learns to staff, teachers, and the public, too. There’s much to learn across the region thanks to the events offered by Triangle universities.

It’s an exciting time across the Triangle as students head back to school. But students as well as the staff and professors at these colleges and universities are always grateful for public support for their sports and academics. Don’t be afraid to try something new this year as you look for ways to enjoy all that universities bring to the region. After all, we wouldn’t be “The Triangle” without these schools at the center of our communities.

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