As the school year begins for new and returning students, faculty and staff look to set the tone with a multitude of fun activities. Freshmen and new transfer students were welcomed with free smoothies, henna tattoos, DIY bamboo planters and other opportunities to connect with fellow peers.
The welcome week activities united the commuter and resident students. The commuter student meet up, where off-campus students had the chance to interact, introduce themselves, and win prizes or giveaways. For the residents, the “Hall Olympics” pitted different residents from each residential hall against each other in friendly competition within various mini games and sports.
Freshman student-athlete and resident Zach Pekol said, “My favorite part about welcome week was having the opportunity to meet so many new people and getting to play in the intramural sand volleyball tournament!” Zach, a member of the men’s volleyball team, enjoyed being able to play his sport with first-timers and pushed him outside his comfort zone to make new friends.
For those who enjoy a more laid back form of activities, Student Activities provided a “Wake-up with Wellness” event which offered a yoga walk with a mindfulness meditation to prepare students for a full day of festivities, with the inclusion of the carnival. For Saturday breakfast, the Brown Dining Hall offered “Cereal Saturday,” allowing students to sleep in and enjoy their breakfast.
The weekend ended with a campus carnival filled with local food trucks: Yum Dum, Da Pizza Dude, Suga Mama’s Donuts and Rainbow Cone. For the fun events, there were multiple activities that had the likes of bungee jumping, a mechanical bull ride, rock climbing and a DJ ensuring the carnival felt like a real party! The night ended with an amazing firework display that lasted approximately 15 minutes, finishing the night with beautiful colors in the sky for all of the carnival attendees to enjoy.
Student activities ensured residents and commuters alike had opportunities to interact with staff, students and faculty as the week continued. Assistant Director for Student & Multicultural Engagement Javier Rodriguez says, “The goal for Lewis is to engage students, faculty and staff through fun and exciting events that build upon our Lasallian tradition. The staff push for blending a variety of programs for anyone to participate and feel welcomed to.”
If you are still interested in a future event, attend Lewis Fest on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11 AM to 5 PM on the University Green, which is a combination of Family Day and Alumni Day. This event is open to all Lewis alumni, students, faculty and staff. Registration is now open online on the Lewis website. Additionally, Latino Heritage Month Celebration is starting on Sept. 15 and will have a lot of cultural events that celebrate the rich Latino culture.
Photo Credits: LifeatLewis
