NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
5/13/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Leigh Gentry, NSU journalism student
NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will hold five sessions of its Freshman Connection program this summer. The orientation program for incoming freshmen will be held in Natchitoches on May 29-30, June 27, July 10-11 and July 25. A session will be held at NSU’s Leesville/Fort Polk campus on July 16. Prospective Louisiana Scholars’ College students can attend the May 29-30 session or the July 10-11 session to register for classes and enjoy the activities.
The focus of these activities is to help new students prepare for their very first semester at NSU, according to Reatha Cox, director of New Student Programs, who has worked with Freshman Connection since 1999. Incoming freshman have the chance to get paperwork done, meet with faculty and advisors and work with current Northwestern students to focus on making the students’ transition to NSU as smooth as possible.
The group leaders incorporate learning the history of the university into the activities as well as an organizational fair, in which the students can learn about different organizations on campus. At the two-day sessions, students can participate in “Freshman Follies,” or outdoor games in which teams of students compete, as well as a pep rally and a pool party.
The prospective students can stay in University Place during the two-day sessions to experience where they will live in the fall. They also can take advantage of the chance to test out of certain classes during these sessions.
Cox expects up to 300 students at each Freshman Connection session. The price of the sessions is $80 each.
These sessions are lead by Freshman Connectors, students who audition in the fall semester and train in the spring to lead these summer sessions. This year’s connectors are Carolyn Bernard of Bossier City, Dakota Byrd, Blake Guillory and Tiffany Oyelowo of Natchitoches, Nick Courville of Basile, Vanner Erikson of Loreauville, Tiffany Foshee of Martin, Carson Martinez of Jennings, Kaleigh McCord of Baton Rouge, Molly McInnis of Benton, Jessi Nuss of New Orleans, Britt Richey of Lake Charles, Hannah Beth Salter of Olla and Ronnie Washington of Alexandria
Courville, a junior accounting major, is a lead Freshman Connector as he is in his second term this year. He said he had a really positive experience last year, so he wanted to do it again. Being a lead Freshman Connector is a different experience than last year, because he is a leader of a small group of leaders, he said.
The Freshman Connectors are responsible for informing the students about NSU and its history and opportunities.
“I know a lot of stuff I never thought I’d know [about NSU],” said Courville. “The main job of a Connector is to give students knowledge and a positive experience on the campus.”
Students planning to attend Freshman Connection are urged to preregister. For more information, go to http://www.nsula.edu/enrollmentservices/nsp/ or call (318) 357-6011.
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