President’s Convocation will welcome first-year students to campus Aug. 26

Photo courtesy of: University Communications and MarketingThe Marching 110 leads first-year students up Richland Avenue

OHIO’s 21st President Dr. M. Duane Nellis will host the annual President’s Convocation for First-Year Students at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, in the Convocation Center.

This year’s Convocation will utilize the new video screens in the Convo to employ multimedia programming, including the use of video messages and a cellphone light activity to energize students as they prepare to start classes the following day. The event aims to entertain, inform, excite and plant the earliest seeds of Bobcat Pride.

Attendance is mandatory for first-year students and OHIO faculty and staff are encouraged to attend to share in this milestone event for the Class of 2022.

Scheduled speakers include President Dr. M. Duane Nellis, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Jason Pina, Dean of Students Dr. Jenny Hall-Jones and Student Senate President Maddie Sloat. Other student leaders, including student trustees Faith Voinovich and Austin McClain, will also participate.

"First-Year Convocation is an exciting event for everyone involved because it is the beginning of something very special," said Dr. Nellis. "For the students, it marks the beginning of a college career at an amazing University that has been producing exceptional graduates for more than 200 years. For faculty and staff, it is an opportunity to meet the newest Bobcats and encourage them to make a positive and long-lasting impact in today's rapidly changing world."

Attendees will also view a video message featuring OHIO’s new Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Chaden Djalali, Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Joe McLaughlin and other faculty members giving advice to first-year students. The program will conclude with first-year students learning the University’s alma mater.

Keeping with tradition, immediately following the ceremony, the drumline of OHIO’s Marching 110 will lead first-year students in a procession up Richland Avenue and through the College Gate at Court and Union Streets, officially inducting the Class of 2022 into the OHIO community.

After proceeding through the College Gate, the students will participate in the annual Campus Involvement Fair on College Green. Hosted by the Campus Involvement Center, the event will showcase more than 300 of the University’s student organizations and clubs.

Representatives from those organizations will be available to provide information, answer questions and sign students up to participate in their groups. The Campus Involvement Fair will be held below the Convocation Center in the event of inclement weather.

The President’s Convocation is part of Bobcat Welcome Week activities, which will run Thursday, Aug. 23 through Saturday, Sept. 1.

Bobcat Welcome Week is part of the University’s new “Ready. Set. OHIO!” initiative, which is a three-phased approach to preparing first-year students for life on the Athens Campus.

Other highlighted 2018 Welcome Week events include:

• South Beach Bash
  Thursday (Aug. 23), 8 p.m., South Beach
• Initial Floor Meeting for First-Year Students
  Friday (Aug. 24), 6-7 p.m., Residence Halls
• Class of 2022 Photo
  Friday (Aug. 24), 7:30 p.m., Peden Stadium
• Movie Night at Peden Stadium
  Friday, after Class of 2022 photo
• College Welcomes
  Saturday (Aug. 25), 1 p.m.
• Student Organization Fair
  Sunday (Aug. 26), 3:30 p.m., College Green

A full list of Bobcat Welcome Week activities can be viewed at https://www.ohio.edu/uc/welcome-week/schedule