Today@Sam Article

Welcome Week Activities To Put Students On Road To Success

Aug. 9, 2011
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

Sam Houston State University will start students down the “road to success” while welcoming those who are new to campus and returning from the summer with two weeks of activities beginning Aug. 20.

“Welcome Week is truly SHSU laying down a new and fresh welcome mat for its students. It’s the university’s way of saying ‘welcome to your new home away from home,’” said Brandon Cooper, associate director for Student Activities. “SHSU is known for its unique culture of friendliness and close-knit support structure, and this is our first opportunity in the fall to expose students to all of these things by giving them an array of programs and events that greet them as soon as they arrive.”

Welcome Week will take off on Saturday (Aug. 20) with “New Student Move-In.”

“‘New Student Move-In’ is a staple of the Welcome Week program, having been organized for over 15 years,” Cooper said. “At move-in we have various student organizations and university entities volunteer their time to help the students move into their new residence hall. This program really embodies the university’s emphasis on service and helping those around you.

Groups that want to participate should check in at the Lowman Student Center Paw Print between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Organizations should sign up ahead of time in the Student Activities office, located in LSC Suite 328 and will receive a free lunch for their efforts.

That evening, new students will receive their formal welcome to SHSU with New Student Convocation, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum, followed by “Rock the REC,” at 7 p.m. at the Recreational Sports Center.

On Monday, students can receive have help finding their classes by meeting at the Lowman Student Center Fountain at 11 a.m. and that evening they can help enact the university’s motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” by participating in a project in town.

“The Bearkat Service Project is a great service learning program from the Center for Leadership and Service that will have students aiding the Walker County Historical Commission by volunteering with improvements made to the historical Gibbs-Powell House in downtown Huntsville,” Cooper said. “This is a great program for students to perform a service to the surrounding community.”

Participants in the service project should sign up beforehand in the Student Activities office.
Wednesday (Aug. 24) night will bring “Vegas” to Huntsville with the traditional Casino Night, from 6-10 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.

“For Casino Night the Program Council has real casino equipment brought in, and students are given ‘fake’ money to play with, with the opportunity to win prizes,” Cooper said. “This is truly one of the largest and most successful programs of Welcome Week.”

On Aug. 29, the Office of Multicultural and International Student Services will “promote and highlight the great diversity we have at SHSU” during Unityfest, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Mall Area.

On Aug. 31, the Student Services will showcase the various departments under the division and the services they offer from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the LSC Atrium.

“Student Services Day is a great way for students to see the services that are at their disposal and the friendly staff who are here to help them,” Cooper said.

Welcome Week will culminate with the first football game of the season, at 6 p.m. at Bowers Stadium against Western Illinois, on Sept. 1. Before the game, students can participate in the Bearkat Alley tailgate party, from 4-6 p.m. on the north side of Bowers Stadium.

"This year's Welcome Week theme is ‘Sam Houston State University...Your Road to Success,’ which is a message that we really want to 'drive home' to the students; that by attending SHSU you are truly mapping your course for future success in whatever area you are embarking upon," Cooper said.

“All of the Welcome Week programs demonstrate to our students, in some manner, a sub-structure of university life that is vital to the success of all students and truly embrace this theme,” Cooper said. “While academics is, of course, the main goal of attending a university and obtaining a degree, is it vital that students have various services, programs and events that help to grow them and aid them through the process.”

For information on these programs, or for a full schedule of events, contact the Department of Student Activities at 936.294.3465, e-mail studentactivities@shsu.edu or visit http://www.shsu.edu/~slo_sad/.

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