Beginning Thursday morning with the Info Fair held at the Taylor Quad, thousands of freshmen began the college experience, many out on their own for the first time.
“I’m excited, nervous, scared — all the feelings,” said Cameron Jones, a freshman from Kaysville, Utah. Jones moved from his home not knowing what to expect.
Much to the delight of freshmen like Jones, returning students of BYU-Idaho provided New Student Orientation, allowing first year students to take a crash course in learning what this school is all about.
Many booths were set up on the freshmen’s behalf, providing information for a large selection of campus services including social and fitness activities, leadership opportunities, meal plans and career and academic advising.
“Anything you want to learn [about BYU-I], you can learn it; NSO is becoming much more information based,” said Jason Olmos, a senior from West Jordan, Utah, and an NSO program worker.
Events were highlighted by a short welcome address Friday from President Kim Clark, who told students what a joy and privilege it is to be here, for both students and faculty.
“President Clark’s talk helped ease [my] nerves and feel at peace, and let me know that this is the right place to be,” said Savanah Butler, a freshman from Smithfield, Utah.
Many students said they felt that the Spirit of Ricks Showcase was also very beneficial. During the production of music and dance, students were told that a hero lies in each of them and such status could be achieved through simple service.
“The showcase brought the Spirit,” said Bryan Ringo, a freshman from Huntington, Ind. “When everyone stood up as we sang ‘We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet,’ I felt it really strong.”
In addition, campus activities were briefly introduced, some by a dancing gorilla.
This masked man left students chuckling in their seats as he posed for a painting, scared innocent campers and shamefully surrendered to a group of young ladies highly trained in the art of self-defense.
“I picked up a lot of information about different events around campus,” Alea Crisco, a freshman from Conway, Ark., said.
Every NSO event introduced a different piece of what BYU-I has to offer, including dances.
Friday ended with a new student dance, where for only $4, students could get their groove on, mix and mingle with others and enjoy free ice cream.
Saturday offered a morning-side devotional, service activities and the highly anticipated I-Night Extravaganza, concluding a weekend packed with information and entertainment, and launching a new semester sure to offer much more.
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