Transitioning from high school to college is a pretty monumental step in one’s life. On August 21, King’s welcomed 561 first year students, and watched them embark on the next part of their lives.
Grocery carts filled with microwaves and boxes adorned the campus. People rushing from place to place, trying to get all settled in before the start of classes on August 25th were the sights to see on Orientation Weekend which spanned from August 21st to the 24th.
This year, the largest class of freshmen in school history took part in an orientation weekend that helped them ease into this new experience. The theme of this year’s orientation was “Mission: Possible” and included a variety of activities for students to enjoy.
On the first day of orientation, first year students attended a Welcome Convocation and then met with their FYE groups. After dinner, students had the opportunity to enjoy the local musical group M-80.
Like most years, the new class participated in CitySERVE which was a one-day service project that helped students get to know their classmates while serving the community. On Friday the 22nd, assignments ranged from working at a soup kitchen to taking walks with residents from a nursing home. This year, the service projects were done with the FYE groups.
“This change helped students to get to know their groups better. It also helps so that more service hours can be completed. Groups can return to the sites for more volunteer hours,” says Sean Cryan of Campus Activities. This will help the service trip be more than a one day event, something students can return to and benefit from.
The rest of the weekend consisted of a cookout with President Father Thomas O’Hara, a game show, and, sticking with the theme, a showing of the movie Mission Impossible.
Skits were performed on Saturday while everyone sang along to King’s Karaoke on Saturday night. Overall, it was a very successful and enjoyable weekend for all.
King’s College seems to be experiencing a growing freshman class every year, and it is easy to see why.
Many changes have taken place to make King’s a more accommodating campus. First year students, along with the rest of the student population, will take pleasure in a newly renovated Betzler Fields. Also, the reconstruction of Holy Cross hall has been completed along with a brand new sixth floor of Esseff Hall.
It is obvious that King’s College is moving upward, with growing class size and new additions all over campus. With its small class size and community atmosphere, a new beginning for the first-year class should be easier than expected. |
