President Cheng hosts annual Welcome Back Barbecue (PHOTOS)

Cheng cuts cake

Aug. 29, 2019

A warm, sunny August afternoon greeted thousands of students, faculty and staff at this year’s annual Welcome Back Barbecue. The Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band opened the event with the playing of the NAU fight song.

NAU’s executive and administrative team served a total of 1,210 hot dogs, 2,220 hamburgers and 624 veggie burgers. In addition to ice cream and cookies served by NAU Alumni volunteers, guests also were treated to a slice from a 50-pound sponge cake, topped with 100 pounds of buttercream frosting. The cake was designed by the Bakery Department at the University Union and took multiple workers two days to make the spun sugar decorations and about an hour and a half of work on-site to finish the design.

KJACK provided a DJ to keep attendees in high spirit as they enjoyed the dunk tank, spike-ball and each other’s company.