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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Elmo the Eagle leads a group of new students through a tunnel Thursday as part of New Student Orientation. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Lifestyles

Class of 2019 arrives

Teri Robinson
Elmo the Eagle leads a group of new students through a tunnel Thursday as part of New Student Orientation. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Elmo the Eagle leads a group of new students through a tunnel Thursday as part of New Student Orientation. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

School may have officially started with classes on Monday, but freshmen and new students began receiving information and attending campus events last Thursday for move-in and New Student Orientation.

A mass of bodies filled Kent Hall’s lawn area, and other residence halls, Thursday morning as new students, their guests, Eagle Leaders-returning students, and CSC faculty and staff helped move and check in the students.

After new students were situated in their dorms, they had an opportunity for questions to be answered at the One-Stop Shop, find their classrooms, and enjoy an evening of fun and welcome.

Clayton Steinmett, 23, junior of Hot Springs, South Dakota, digs the ball up Friday at the Backyard BBQ as part of New Student Orientation. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Clayton Steinmett, 23, junior of Hot Springs, South Dakota, digs the ball up Friday at the Backyard BBQ as part of New Student Orientation. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

The Class of 2019 joined together for a Pep Rally where CSC President Randy Rhine welcomed the class. A welcome picnic followed after and allowed students and their guests to relax and enjoy a free meal before a second day of activities.

Justy Bullington, admissions representative, headed New Student Orientation for the first time and focused on Eagle Pride throughout the activities in the first two days new students were on campus.

“We wanted to instill Eagle Pride early on and really welcome them to the Chadron State family,” Bullington said.

Bullington had the assistance of 57 Eagle Leaders, and faculty and staff to help coordinate all of the activities on campus and assist the new students and their guests in any way needed.

Friday provided more chances to straighten out any issues a student may have and check where their classrooms are located. A backyard bash barbeque and party ended the night and allowed those in attendance to savor chicken and pasta salad before competing in various activities and games. A slip and slide, bag toss, games of basketball and volleyball, life size water pong, and music entertained participants until after dark.

Roughly 440 new freshmen, and a total of 502 new residents in the residence halls were recorded as of Tuesday, according to Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Student Services Jon Hansen.

CSC student-athletes help new students move-in last Thursday in Kent Hall. —Photo by Teri Robinson
CSC student-athletes help new students move-in last Thursday in Kent Hall. —Photo by Teri Robinson

“Our enrollment number will continue to fluctuate until we close the add-drop date for the second eight-week classes,” Hansen said.

On a head count from the same day last year, August 25, 2014, this year the count is down one percent, according to Hansen. However, there is a 25 percent increase in new graduate students and the overall graduate enrollment is up 5.5 percent from last year.

Marketing and advertising initiatives along with the Eagle Rate, a low tuition for out-of-state undergraduate students, are being used to help with recruitment for the 2016-2017 academic school year.