A SLAMMING start to a new year
Staff and student leaders team up for a large-scale welcome for new students
Kristen Hogrefe
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: On Campus
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The initial part of their training involved sitting through general sessions led by Dr. Hodges, planning sessions for welcoming students onto campus, and even a counseling session taught by Dr. Kristin Dewitt.
As Dr. Hodges said, the whole point of the meetings "was to prepare those mentoring for what the program would entail, to give everyone a chance to gather some counseling help, to provide a squad to put on the big welcome, and to develop team relationships."
Although DDLs (Daily Devotion Leaders) and proctors had arrived early in past years for in-service, this year's group began something new. Dr. Hodges and others in the administration carefully planned and prepared to launch, with the willing help of the S.L.A.M. team, the first ever student mentoring program.
Sharon Christopher, a DDL this year, said, "Clearwater is completely overhauling the DDL/Proctor program in order to better fit biblical discipleship principles. DDLs are now more involved in the lives of their dorm mates, especially their freshman. They spend time with each freshman in their devo group every other week to make sure that they are growing socially and academically, but especially spiritually."
In addition, the administration and student team endeavored a large-scale welcome, beginning when the new students drove onto campus. A welcoming group greeted students and families; others offered drinks to alleviate the heat and snacks to distract stomachs filled with butterflies. The young men of the S.L.A.M. team helped unload vehicles in front of all four dorms, while still others helped with check-in or offered direction to first-timers on campus.
Dr. Hodges explained why the college invested so much effort and energy into this day: "The Big Welcome was designed to make students and their parents feel at home when they arrived. It is important that new students and families see a campus that has open arms and a servant heart."
Newcomers certainly felt the friendliness. Lynne Fukutani wrote to Dr. Hodges, "I am a new student at Clearwater, and I came to school on Monday filled with apprehension and excitement. I think the orientation was beautifully done. From the first welcoming committee on Monday morning to the final orientation meeting this afternoon, everyone was helpful, patient, warm and welcoming."
The evening culminated with a prayer of dedication led by Dr. David Burggraff, in which parents formed a circle around the new student body and committed their children--once toddlers, now young adults--to Christ in the upcoming semester. The day came to a close on a less serious note as new students and their mentors participated in SLAMFEST, a student led and organized activity time in the gymnasium.
After the first day, the S.L.A.M. team helped new students find their orientation sessions, meet new people at activities like bowling and ice-skating, and find their classroom locations for the first day of class.
Although opening week is now over, the S.L.A.M. team's work is only beginning. Sharon explained, "The first week of school was a busy one for the S.L.A.M. team, but now we come to the difficult but most vital part. It isn't hard to be cheerful and welcoming at first--it becomes harder when situations in the dorms become stressful, we're busy with studying, and we feel spiritually weak. The hard part is just starting for the new students also as they really start to miss their families and feel the shock of college life. The S.L.A.M. team's role as encouragers, disciplers, and accountability partners is just beginning and it will continue as we pursue sanctification as our highest prize."
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