The Newman University campus buzzed with excitement as it welcomed the new undergraduate students during move-in day and orientation weekend Aug. 18 and 19.
“We are generating lots of energy and enthusiasm for the new school year, and welcoming all of the new faces here adds to the community spirit,” said Newman President Kathleen Jagger, Ph.D., MPH.
Including the U.S., there are 18 countries represented by the entering class. As of the first day of classes, the group of students includes 175 first-time, full-time undergraduate students and 122 transfer, full-time undergraduate students. (Note: The numbers are not official until the 20th-day.)
New students moved into their new on-campus home with the help of the men’s and women’s basketball and women’s soccer teams, the Student Life team, Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) sisters, Campus Ministry, Dugan Library and others.
At the end of move-in day, new and current students connected during the Back to School Bash while parents got to know President Jagger during a social hour in the Tarcisia Roths, ASC, Alumni Center.
Amaya Perez, a sophomore studying special education, found it rewarding to volunteer during move-in day alongside her basketball teammates. Her own freshman move-in day was one year ago, and she recalls that “movie moment” of stepping into the halls as a first-year student.
“I think coming in as a freshman to college, you have that nervous excitement,” Perez said. “So it’s good to have someone who you’re going to see around all the time welcome you firsthand to Newman.”
For first-year homeschool student Gianna Rhein, move-in day was an especially exciting endeavor — and not just because she got to meet her roommate, Anna Lobmeyer.
“I have 13 siblings and I’m number 11,” Rhein said with a smile. “So I’m most looking forward to the late-night conversations with a roommate who’s the same age as me instead of somebody who’s younger and has to go to bed earlier.”
Quinn Toomey, a graduate of Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise, Arizona, was recruited to play on the golf team at Newman. During move-in day, he credited his dad for helping him get to where he is today.
“My dad has definitely encouraged me no matter what sport I went into,” Toomey said. “It’s really great that I have such an encouraging family and that they’ve raised me to play golf, hockey, baseball. I really love them for that.”
Malie Noda of Redlands, California, has never lived with a roommate before, but is excited to meet new people and make new experiences during her time at Newman. She is a member of the softball team and will major in biology on a pre-medicine route to one day become an anesthesiologist.
The one item she couldn’t live without? “Probably my cowboy hat,” she said with a laugh.
Students dive into life at Newman during orientation day
At the start of orientation day, President Jagger shared a quote by former Secretary General of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld with students and parents of the incoming class: “How long the road is, but for all the time the journey has taken, how you’ve needed every second of it in order to learn what the road passes by.”
Jagger assured the new students that faculty, staff and current students are here to help them along the unpredictable road to come.
“Everybody is here to help you experience the highs, the lows, the turbulence — so that when you get to graduation day, you can look back and think about all those seconds along the way,” Jagger said. “I welcome you here today and I hope that for all of you, your next several years here at Newman will be something truly extraordinary.”
Saturday’s jam-packed orientation day featured an opportunity for student team building and connections led by Playfair in the Fugate Gymnasium while parents heard from campus leaders through panel discussions.
From there, students departed into various informative sessions about on-campus resources and frequently asked questions. A buffet lunch was held in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center, where many students wished farewell to their parents and launched into the latter half of the day.
For junior transfer student Boston Stanton, orientation day represents a fresh start.
“No matter where you are, you’ve got good things and bad things that you’re going through,” Stanton said. “But here at this orientation day, I’m just putting all of it behind me and looking forward to making the best of every opportunity I get here.”
Twins Tryphena and Tryphosa Kayode of Goddard Eisenhower High School were drawn to Newman for its “peaceful and serene environment,” said Tryphosa, and the professors, who “were really helpful and welcoming,” according to Tryphena.
“This weekend represents a landmark of getting into reality and beginning the college journey,” Tryphosa said.
A celebratory campus cookout was held on Saturday night. Students met and mingled over hot dogs and hamburgers as local dancers of Ballet Folklorico Mexico en el Corazon performed.
“This weekend was all about getting college life started for these students,” said Joshua Prilliman ‘14, director of student activities. “This has given them an introduction to what school looks like. It’s the time of letting them know that we have resources for them to be successful. And it’s really about them making sure that they feel like this can be home.”
Senior Hope Strickbine offered advice for the new class on how to get the most out of their Newman experience.
“Find ways to get connected in the community,” Strickbine said. “Find ways to build your community here. Everybody here is rooting for you. Find faculty, staff and students to connect with. A good way of doing that is by attending events, but it can also just be attending the professor’s office hours. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
Prilliman added, “If you make the effort, there are people here that you are with as a student for four years and they’ll be with you for a lifetime.”
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