Golden Eagle Welcome Week Ushers in New School Year at USM

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By: David Tisdale

Right away, Aidan Ayestas of New Orleans felt at home at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) as he participated in orientation on the Hattiesburg campus during Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW).

Ayestas, an incoming freshman who plans to major in business administration, immediately made connections with new classmates during the leadup to the start the fall 2023 semester at the university. He and hundreds of others took part in the traditional Paint the Eagle Walk, along with a variety of other planned activities through GEWW designed to help new students become acclimated to campus life.

“I’m loving it so far,” Ayestas said. “A lot of other schools don’t have an orientation week like USM has, so it’s been a great experience. I’ve met a lot of new people who I’ve become good friends with already.”

Classes begin today, Monday, Aug. 21 in Hattiesburg and at the university’s sites on the Gulf Coast.

“There’s always something special about the start of the fall semester on a college campus, and we welcome new and returning students to experience that at USM in Hattiesburg and on the Gulf Coast,” said USM Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Kristi Motter. “We’re excited about the possibilities that await those pursuing their academic and career goals here, and our faculty, staff and administration are ready to help them every step of the way.”

Rachael Brocks, a freshman from Clinton, came to USM to major in digital journalism and relishes being a new member of the Golden Eagle family.

“It’s been great,” Brocks said of orientation week. “I’ve met a lot of new people who I’ve already become friends with and enjoying stopping in to the Fresh (Food Company) for breakfast each morning. Our GEWW team leader has been doing a great job helping us get prepared for the semester to start on Monday, helping us learn about the scholarships available to us and the different activities and organizations on campus that we can become a part of. I’m very excited.”

Laila Peters, a senior from Hattiesburg, said she didn’t get to experience GEWW when she was a freshman because of COVID restrictions, going through orientation online instead. But in working as a student assistant with GEWW, she helped new students find their way around campus.

“To actually experience it firsthand with all of these new students, it’s great to see the excitement they’re experiencing and to become new members of the USM family,” Peters explained. Her friend Rachel Lafayette of Columbus, a fellow senior and GEWW student assistant, said the incoming freshmen and transfers are “a lively, fun bunch.” “It’s been great to experience this with them and help them get settled in,” she said.

Graham Hightower of Hattiesburg said going through orientation gives him a new vantage point on his hometown university as he begins mapping out his next four years of college, with plans to major in kinesiology.

“Even though I grew up in Hattiesburg, coming through orientation I see USM in a new light, getting to enjoy the different things the campus has to offer, and meeting new friends just in these first few days all of us have been together,” he said. “It’s been a great experience.”

USM photos by Kelly Dunn.

 

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