NARRATOR:
For a week before the start of classes, new students engage in trips and activities
designed to help them become familiar with their peers and the academic environment
at Hendrix.
TONYA HALE, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES:
New Student Orientation is a weeklong series of events and programs designed
to acclimate new students to campus life. We focus on peer awareness programs and
various social things to sort of get them ready for the college experience.
EMILY CARIKER ’14, ORIENTATION COORDINATOR
The upperclassmen start off the week by helping all the new students move in,
literally taking their stuff up to their rooms – which is nice for all the parents.
Then, during the week, they assist with Playfair, which is a really fun outdoor
crazy get-to-know-you with all 450 of the freshmen. And then, toward the end of
the week, we help out with stuff like Pizza Wars, we help out with the academic
advising sessions.
HALE:
We have almost a hundred student leaders – all upperclassmen – that are here
for this entire week, sort of building this community and getting them ready for
classes to start.
CARIKER:
Toward the end of the week, on Friday, the upperclassmen lead the trips.
HALE:
The students sort of take all of the new students out on 23 different trips all
over the state of Arkansas and sort of go camping, waterskiing, mountain biking,
canoeing, to sort of provide a community sense of belonging for the new students
that are arriving here.
NARRATOR:
For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu/orientation.