Jefferson College welcomed students to campus with many giveaways and activities.
This year, Jefferson College has 2,912 students enrolled for the fall semester.
Classes began on Aug. 25. The week was filled with various activities like free Starbucks drinks, self-paced bingo, hot dog giveaway and lawn games.
Student wellness and counseling services clinician, Jenna Chunn, said “Welcome Week” is important to have so students can feel connected to the campus.
“(Jefferson College) is a commuter college, obviously, and so connection can be difficult to achieve,” she said. “I think staff getting out of their office and coming create a sense of camaraderie, the easier it is for students to feel connected.
Freshman, Alyssa Reichel, 18, of Festus said these activities are good especially for incoming freshmen.
“Not many freshmen know a lot (on campus) and it’s nice to have something,” she said. “You’re not just here for school.”
Sophomore Katie Maloy, 17, of Festus said she thinks the week’s activities make students feel welcomed on campus.
“I think it just gets everyone in a better mindset to start school,” she said. “Just helps people to not feel like as lonely or nervous.”
Reichel and Maloy decided to attend the hot dog giveaway on the Hillsboro campus led by Gracelife Chapel.
Outreach champion with Gracelife, Laura Borman said the church has been partnering with the college for several years.
“Back when COVID hit, they didn’t have a cafeteria out here, so there are a lot of foreign kids that didn’t have ways to go to the grocery store,” she said. “We started working with the food bank and came out here probably in 2020 and now they have a cafeteria, so we just come once a month and provide a nice meal for their kids.”
In regard to Welcome Week, Borman said helping out with Welcome Week on campus was important.
“I think a lot of young adults have left home for the first time, and there’s that little bit of insecurity and not knowing what to expect, and this just brings a little bit of joy to their day and makes them feel more comfortable,” she said.