New freshman warm up for a new semester

  Tuesday, August 20, 2013 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

“It was amazing!”

That was Heather Eckstein’s assessment of Gorilla Warm-Ups. Eckstein, director of first-year programs at PSU, said Sunday’s event was designed to get new freshmen off to a good start to the academic year.

“The students were so excited and positive and the speaker was great,” Eckstein said. “It was just a wonderful way to get ready for the first day of school.”

Gorilla Warm-Ups is a longstanding tradition at PSU. In addition to getting to know other students in their Freshman Experience Class and meeting the Freshman Experience teacher, students also rang the Centennial Bell, which is an activity they will repeat when they graduate. The event concluded with a freshman class photo on Brandenburg Field.

Gorilla Warm-Ups and a host of activities planned for the coming weeks are all intended to help new students meet others and acclimate to campus life.

“I remember what it was like those first days on campus,” Eckstein said. “I remember the first night I slept here and seeing my parents drive away. There’s a lot going through their minds. Helping students make new friends, get involved in campus life and set good habits early are important to their eventual academic success.”

PSU began its 111th academic year on Aug. 19.