Welcome Week activities continue through Saturday

As Virginia Tech prepares for the school year, new and returning students are probably wondering how to find their place on campus.

Fear not! The university has planned a packed schedule of Welcome Week events and activities that will help students get to know campus and find friends. It’s all about making students comfortable and confident in their new lives at Virginia Tech. 

“I can without a doubt say that through Welcome Week I met some of my closest friends, and now roommates,” said Andy Grassia, a junior majoring in natural resource conservation and management in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Grassia was a Welcome Week student leader in 2018 and has continued in that role this year. “Students will be led by awesome Welcome Week leaders in groups based on student’s residence halls. Welcome Week leaders have trained over the course of the spring semester to build community and introduce campus resources, as well as facilitate small group conversations.”

Welcome Week starts Aug. 21 and runs through Sept. 7. Yes, it’s more than a week, but we just couldn’t fit all the exciting events we have planned in just one week! Events include morning yoga, cookouts, a carnival celebration, the kickoff concert, Gobblerfest, and more.

This year’s Welcome Week will feature more than 60 new and unique events for students, with more opportunities than ever for students to participate in service activities, connect with the Cultural and Community Centers, and engage in outdoor and other activities. 

Welcome Week 2019 is also the launch of Welcome Week Group Meetings in which “students will come together four times throughout the week in order to engage with key transitional topics, such as academics, diversity and inclusion, the Aspirations for Student Learning, and health and wellness,” said Chad Zoller, assistant director for New Student and Family Programs. “These groups are a way for new students to meet other new students within their residence hall and get connected to an upper class resource who will be there to support them throughout their transition to Virginia Tech.”

Welcome Week offers new students an opportunity to meet and mix with returning Hokies. “I get the privilege to ensure that our new Hokies have the same amazing experience that I had,” said Grassia. “We are so excited that students chose Virginia Tech to be their home, and we cannot wait to meet them during Welcome Week!”

You can find the complete Welcome Week schedule on the Hokies on Track app by downloading the My First Year or My Transfer First Year guides. 

Welcome back, Hokies, and have fun!

— Written by Madison Sweezy