While a new school year means returning to academics and extracurriculars for most, the beginning of this school year was also a huge transition for the Creighton class of 2017 as they began their lives as college students.
According to an email from the Rev. Timothy Lannon, S.J., President of Creighton University, this year’s class of approximately 960 freshmen is academically strong and geographically diverse. Forty percent of the class ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class and 25 percent scored a 30 or greater on the ACT. Also, nearly half of the class is from more than 400 miles away from Omaha.
But before most students were even on campus, the team of two Welcome Week Coordinators, Scott Lorenzo and Gina Gilson, and six executives, Joe Lesnak, Chelsea Waltz, Michael Trombello, Michael Pfiefer, Melanie Kim, Emily Knorr, Jaci Beauvais, and Carolyn Pokorney, were busy training over 65 sophomore and junior Welcome Week guides to greet the new class.
While the training for the guides took only a few days, the planning for a week of transitional, educational and fun events has been a yearlong process.
“I learned that no matter how much planning you do, there is always something you miss or cannot control,” community orientation and diversity awareness executive and Nursing junior Jaci Beauvais said. “You learn to roll with it.”
But at the end of the day, when the team is able to see what a difference they are making, the stress becomes well worth it.
“It is that breath of relief and air of excitement at the end of a long day saying, ‘This is it,’” Beauvais said.
Welcome Week officially started on the Aug 16 with freshman move-in on Friday night and Saturday morning. As move-in is one of the first steps to transitioning the freshmen to college, the Welcome Week team has worked to ensure it is a smooth one. Students and families enjoy cookies and refreshments as guides work to move all belongings up to the student’s rooms.
While move-in is a strenuous process, it is also a fun one.
“Move in. Oh man, move in,” Nursing sophomore Katelyn Gradoville said. “As a freshman I completely took for granted the fact that I did not have to physically move my belongings in. On the other end of that I now realize how amazing that was. I think the fact that all of those involved in Welcome Week were still smiling and cheering while moving all the freshmen in truly shows the spirit of Creighton.”
Saturday was also the day for the Welcome Picnic, the first meeting of freshmen RSP groups and final farewells to parents over ice cream sundaes. This was the week full of events to keep students active on campus, even once school began. The Welcome Week team chose events that showcased Creighton’s Jesuit values and rich community.
Some of the favorite activities of the week included outdoor activities during the March to Morrison, speeches about the Jesuit values during Creighton For and With Others, the foam party hosted by the CSU program board and the lip sync competition hosted by Creighton’s Greek community.
“My favorite part about Welcome Week was the giant game of rock, paper, scissors at The Event,” Arts & Sciences freshman Meg Maynard said. “It really showed how loud and enthusiastic the class of 2017 can be, which will definitely come in handy as we join the Big East.”
As Welcome Week came to a close with the last events ending over labor day weekend, the hope is that freshmen have become well adjusted to life at Creighton and that upperclassmen have once again fallen in love with their school.
“I know the word ‘community’ is used in excess to describe Creighton, but I believe we all care so much about everyone here that we can’t help but form a community,” Gradoville said. “Welcome Week is just a facet of that community but it gives the new students a taste of the bonds they will form throughout their time here at Creighton.”