Orientations held for students of color

large group of people
Participants in the inaugural Black Excellence Orientation are pictured in the Kirkhof Center.
Image credit - Bernadine Carey-Tucker
group of people
Laker Familia participants are pictured.
Image credit - Autumn Johnson
students talking while sitting in room
Image credit - Autumn Johnson
family hugging
Image credit - Autumn Johnson

This year for the first time, an orientation was held for first-year African American students.

The Black Excellence Orientation followed the same model as Laker Familia, now in its fourth year of serving new Latino/a students. 

Both orientations ran August 20-22, prior to the start of Transitions on August 23, and included parent welcome/dinners, team building activities, workshops and opportunities to interact with current students, faculty and staff members.

Co-chairs for Black Excellence Orientation were Juanita Davis, assistant director for Multicultural Affairs, and Nykia Gaines, director for TRIO SSS STEM-Health Sciences. About 125 students participated in the inaugural orientation.

Co-chairs for Laker Familia are Salvador Lopez, associate director of Admissions, and Raul Ysasi, affiliate faculty of education. Laker Familia now extends programming throughout the academic year. Laker Familia Orientation saw its largest year, with 109 student participants. 

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