By Danielle Cortes, Staff Writer
As the new year begins and the students begin to settle in to their lives here at Saint Leo University, we look back on the weekend before school where the new students were welcomed with open arms in to their new homes.
This year for New Student Orientation we had much preparation over the summer. First Year Experience director Jennifer Garcia and her Orientation Summer Staff: Bella Leitf, Nelson Blanco, Jodecia Parkins, Lauren Garcia, Kristina Lindner and volunteer Megan (Mel) Lingini, made sure that everything was right on track and planned out for when the new students and staff arrived. The Orientation consisted of five days where the new students moved in, matriculated, learned about the different departments on campus through our Fast University tour, and even got involved with the campus students for activities like Club Leo, laser tag, photo booths, and a little taste of the Campus Activities Board novelties. As tradition the new students were welcomed to join the Orientation Team, which consisted of 47 orientation leaders, to trips such as Muvico and Magic Kingdom.
Among the growing classes here at Saint Leo we were pleased to hear that we were joined by over 800 new students here on campus this year. There was a record count of 150 international students, 160 transfer students, and a whopping 675 freshman. This was a huge change for orientation staff who had previously worked for this function. Garcia had some goals she hoped to accomplish with the orientation; “…that students would come out to Saint Leo and feel welcome and part of the community. With the help of my student summer staff, volunteers, Orientation team and really the entire community I think we did that.” There was a count of 360 new students for the Muvico trip and 600 new students that enjoyed the comforts of the 12 coach buses that waited to take them to Magic Kingdom.
There were several returning staff to the orientation team as well as many new comers. Many were impressed with the training they were given, which included working with Disney’s Youth Education Series program in Epcot, as well as working with Saint Leo University staff to improve their improvisational skills and better their way of communicating with the students. “I’ve been an Orientation Leader for the past 3 years, and each year the experience is better than the previous year. My favorite part is getting to know the freshman and their backgrounds, and meeting people from all over the world, that come to Saint Leo University to further their education. As Orientation Leaders we become someone who the new students look up to, and being a leader on campus is truly a rewarding feeing”, says DeAnna Dinatale, Senior and third time returning Orientation Leader. For newer orientation leaders like Conner Ellis, Junior, it was a great learning experience, “I have worked with Res Life on campus, so I get to see the new students often, but it was different to see the effort put in to orientation, and the fun that we had breaking the ice with the new students and helping them find their way.”
Many of the students and family got to meet the staff on their first day of move in as the orientation leaders grabbed everyone’s attention in the courtyard by dancing to The Wobble and encouraging everyone to join. Staff asked about orientation agreed it was a success and enjoyed getting to have a part of it. For anyone wishing to become an Orientation Leader in the future, you can get more information from Jennifer Garcia, First Year Experience, located in the Student Activities Building.
