Although the group of incoming freshmen is the school's largest ever, officials assure the new students they will be treated as individuals.
By EBONY WINDOM
Published July 12, 2003
[Times photo: Lance Rothstein]
Saint Leo sophomore Jerome Gayman leads incoming freshmen on a tour of the university campus at an orientation kickoff Friday.
ST. LEO - The bleachers were packed, the crowd was pumped - all to welcome the largest freshman class in school history.
More than 700 parents and incoming freshmen attended Saint Leo University's orientation kickoff Friday. The three-day event was dubbed "It's Showtime at Leoland" and starred the new freshmen.
Even the top brass came out to welcome them to the university.
"You've begun a great, great journey," university president Arthur Kirk Jr. said. "At the heart of the vision is you, the student."
"You're part of the fastest-growing university in Florida," Gary Bracken, vice president for enrollment, told the group gathered in Marion Bowman Center. "I think you're in for a great ride."
With two new residence halls for upperclassmen ready to open this fall, the university is making room for the outstanding growth.
"The students who are already here are doing a lot of our best recruiting," Bracken said. "They (students) appreciate the personal attention. It's impossible to be anonymous here. I think it's one of the safest campuses in Florida."
The mixture of students, parents and staff members will have a chance to mingle and see what Saint Leo has to offer. Some students and their parents will stay on campus for activities such as an ice cream social, a casino night and a golf outing.
Although freshmen don't move in until late August, many will meet their roommates and see their dorm rooms for the first time. They will get their e-mail addresses, too.
"It's chance to bond more closely with the institution," Bracken said, "so it's not so intimidating in the fall."
Roommates Erica Gardner, 17, of Putnam, Conn., and Ashley McEwen, 18, of Inverness, chatted at lunch about the adventure on which they are about to embark. McEwen appreciates the small town feel.
"I just wanted to go here because it's a small school and I'm not going to get caught up with the parties," she said. "I'm not going to be sitting in a lecture room with 600 students."
"It's so nice here," said Julia Carroll, 17, of New Port Richey. "Everybody's like "Hi, how are you doing? What's your name?' Everybody's nice and has good values."
Campus minister Michael Cooper reminded the students that each is a special addition to the university.
"Look at your hands for a minute," he said. "No one on the face of the earth has ever carried your fingerprints. You're not just a number. Each of you are known; each of you are special."
- Ebony Windom covers Pasco community news. She can be reached at 813 909-4609 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4609. Her e-mail address is ewindom@sptimes.com
