Winter Weeks of Welcome celebrates new Hokies Jan. 17-31
Events organized by New Student and Family Programs and campus partners welcome new first-year and transfer students to campus.
While the weather outside may be frightful, new Hokies are gearing up for a very warm welcome to Virginia Tech. Winter Weeks of Welcome, Jan. 17-31, offers two weeks of fun-filled events and activities for incoming Hokies and those who began in fall.
“Winter Weeks of Welcome captures the energy and excitement of starting the new school year for Hokies arriving in the spring semester,” said Heidi Angle, assistant director of marketing and communications for New Student and Family Programs.
Winter Weeks of Welcome is organized by New Student and Family Programs as part of the extended orientation experience. The initiative helps first-year and transfer students acclimate to campus.
“Our goal is to give brand new spring students a warm welcome and to include other first-year students who are still learning their way around the Virginia Tech community,” said Maeve Marley, program coordinator for New Student and Family Programs. “They have a semester behind them, but we still want to introduce them to new things and help them get oriented.”
Events range in size and theme and many are co-organized with campus partners including VT Engage, Cultural and Community Centers, Rec Sports, Student Engagement and Campus Life, and more.
Key events include:
- WoW Winter Wonderland, featuring laser tag, an ice rink, a snow globe photo booth, and a hot chocolate truck on Jan. 24 in War Memorial Hall
- GobblerNights on Jan. 24
- Men’s basketball game watch party on Jan. 25 at D2
- Movie night on Jan. 29 at The Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg
Winter Weeks of Welcome offers an array of opportunities for new Hokies to make new friends, orient themselves on campus, and explore everything Virginia Tech has to offer.
Kody Ho, a senior and Hokies on Track intern, said that Winter Weeks of Welcome helps new students find a sense of place and community on campus.
“My advice is to be open to going out to events, making new friends, and getting out of your comfort zone,” he said. “In these first few days on campus, you aren’t going to classes, so it’s a great opportunity to meet new people. You’ll meet people from different backgrounds and identities that you might not have otherwise met, and the friendships you make will last a lifetime.”
The full Winter Weeks of Welcome schedule is available on the Hokies on Track App.
