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Looking back on two weeks and more than 200 events, Jamal Ross, the week’s welcome student leader, sums up the experience in one word: “Worth it.”
Ross, a senior pursuing a double degree in political science and philosophy, politics and economics, said, “It was a pleasure to use my personal experiences and stories to introduce incoming students to the vibrant culture of Virginia Tech and their new home.
“Seeing their enthusiasm and hearing their questions about participating in new student and family programs [NSFP] It’s allowed me to develop leadership skills and it keeps pulling me back year after year,” Ross continued. “Being a Welcome Week leader has played a huge role in my experience at Virginia Tech. Working with NSFP has been a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Ross is one of 42 students who have been working with the NSFP since early August to organize and execute the welcome hobby weeks, which began with check-in on August 15 and will conclude at Goblefirst this Friday, September 2, from 4 to 7. pm on the Drillfield.
“Our goal is to welcome first-year students in a meaningful way and provide opportunities for them to connect within the campus community,” said Gabby McCollum, associate dean and director of New Student and Family Programs, a division of Student Affairs. “We’ve done this in a way that’s inclusive, accessible and fun.”
Welcome Weeks are designed to fulfill at least one of our four guiding principles: to educate, entertain, inspire and engage. There were big and small events. Some are required for first-year, transfer and international students.
“Even with our efforts to expand capacity, it’s exciting to see consistently high turnout for events,” McCollum said. “For example, on casino night we doubled the number of tables from last year, and we still had a line out the door and the tables were full all night. Each year we hope to make our most popular event even more accessible to the enthusiastic crowd that comes.”
Gobblefirst, now in its 14th year, is the university’s annual rain-wine festival that welcomes students to campus. The beginning of the school year has become a tradition. It was first conceived in the fall of 2008 as a way for students to connect with organizations. It has grown to include staff, faculty and members of the Blacksburg community. GobbleFirst student organization information sites are designed to educate students and the community about the many ways to get involved and meet people at Virginia Tech. Over 700 booths, live shows and rides make this a must-attend event.
Gobblerfest is hosted by Student Affairs and Campus Life. The GobbleFirst website includes a map of the festival’s location and details of student organizations, departments, nonprofits and businesses participating in the event.
Although Welcome Week officially ends with Gobblerfest, the calendar includes details on upcoming new student and family programs events, such as Family Weekend on September 16-18.
The full schedule and event details can be found in the “My First Year 2022” guidebook in Hokies on Track. Mobile application.
Heidi Klockenbrink contributed to this article.
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