SCOTT GULLEDGE / Scroll
Students mingle and dance Friday night after the day’s New Student Orientation activities, which included a welcome address from President Clark and the Spirit of Ricks Showcase.

I-team leaders introduce freshmen to BYU-Idaho

Jamie Moon MOO05002@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Orange t-shirts, worn by I-team leaders, have been leading groups of confused freshmen all over campus this past weekend. These leaders put countless hours into New Student Orientation, giving instruction and help to their I-team members.

Aside from the time that these leaders spent with new freshman, a lot of time and effort went on preparing and training to be an I-team leader.

“Mentors are some of the ones that do the work behind the scenes. There are so many leaders that make it possible and make it better,” said Tiare Parker, an I-team leader and freshman from Valparaiso, Ind.

I-team leaders went to a two-day conference to get to know each other, to learn to be leaders and how to reach out to students. They learned about the activities — where, when and what to do. President Clark taught good ways to reach out to freshman, as a leader and as a disciple, said Laura Johnson, a junior from Sugar City, Idaho.

“We talked about what to teach students and how students can catch the Spirit of Ricks,” said Kristen Mitchell, a senior from Alabaster, Ala. “It is really cool to meet new freshmen, and to see how excited they are, and to communicate my love of BYU-Idaho to them.”

I-team and New Student Orientation gave students the chance to learn from students who have been through what they are going through now.