Hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered for the annual President’s Welcome Aug. 22 near the university gates to kick off the fall semester.
The Welcome Week event gives new students a chance to meet faculty, staff and students. The NDSU Goldstar Marching Band, Thundar, Cheer Team and Yell Leaders participated. Featured speakers included President Dean L. Bresciani and Cam Knutson, student body president.
Knutson offered advice for incoming students: reach out to new people, get involved in student organizations and take advantage of academic opportunities such as participating in research. “Work hard and apply yourself each and every day. Be sure to have fun and enjoy the experiences that are sure to come,” Knutson said. “Being a Bison is unlike anything else you are going to find. There is opportunity around every corner.”
Bresciani introduced Donovan Dobler, the first student to be admitted for the fall semester. Dobler is a freshman majoring in computer science from Tower City, N.D., and had just returned from training for the Army National Guard. Bresciani presented Dobler with a challenge coin, a military tradition to signify meeting someone important, to symbolically welcome all students to NDSU.
“My message for you is very short and very clear. This is your year,” Bresciani said.
He said NDSU is breaking records such as enrollment, number of graduates, job placement, rate of pay, number of student organizations, athletic successes and amount of national media attention as a top university. He also mentioned NDSU is now ranked the top university in the state of North Dakota. “This is your year; your year to make history,” he said.
Students then separated for respective college events.
Free refreshments and yellow Bison T-shirts were handed out to students so they may join the tradition of wearing school colors to home athletic events.
The first day of fall classes is Aug. 23.