New Student Orientation Program leader and Fiat Lux Mentor applications are available for students on myConnect.
Orientation leaders are chosen by the Associate Dean of Students, Pat Bristor, and her office. According to Ryan Smith, assistant director of Student Activities, they are looking for students who will be good role models for the incoming freshmen class.
“We are looking for students who would be willing to foster a good environment for freshmen,” said Smith, “They need to be able to support freshmen and ease the moving process.”
There are typically around 30 orientation leaders each year. To become an orientation leader, students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, according to Smith.
“We are looking for students who are enthusiastic and energetic,” said Smith. “They should want to gain more leadership experience and should be good role models.”
An aspect of becoming an orientation leader is moving into university housing earlier than the rest of the student population.
“The students who are orientation leaders represent the university,” said Smith. “They are the first people that the incoming freshman will meet on campus and potentially connect with here on campus.”
Fiat Lux mentors are crucial to the process of settling in for freshmen.
They help freshmen get comfortable in their new environment and ease the transition of living away from home, according to Fiat Lux mentor Conner Hoffman, sophomore children and youth ministry major and psychology minor.
“It’s not for everybody,” said Hoffman, “but if you have the drive to help someone else succeed then I would recommend becoming a mentor.”
Hoffman explained that Fiat Lux mentors can share their stories and relate to freshmen in ways that maybe a professor or an advisor cannot.
“I feel like I have a unique sense of how things went my freshmen year,” said Hoffman, “So, I think I was able to give them a different idea of what college is going to be like.”
Fiat Lux is a necessary part of the college experience and often creates bonds between freshman and their mentors. Hoffman’s Fiat Lux mentor was a female.
He explained how having a male perspective may have helped his transition. Hoffman did say, however, that he still had a good experience with his classmates.
“I am still in contact with a few freshmen from my Fiat Lux class,” said Hoffman, “I will see them in the Benedum Cafeteria and they will stop to say hi.”
The bonds created between freshmen and their mentors are unique. These bonds are very helpful for freshmen when moving into their dorms and settling into their new schedules, according to Hoffman.
“Don’t do it just because you think it will be a good experience or a good résumé builder,” said Hoffman, “do it because you truly want to help people succeed.”
Applications must be submitted by March 2.