NSO provides information, activities to incoming freshmen for winter semester

New freshman Eric Carson from Mountain Home, Idaho looks into the competitive sports program at this semester’s orientation information fair. JUSTIN RICH / Scroll

The incoming freshman for winter semester came to BYU-Idaho with questions, and New Student Orientation had answers for them Saturday.

This semester’s orientation included an Info Fair, a parent orientation, a reception with President David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Kae Bednar, a Y-Team social and a commencement ceremony.

The Info Fair, held between the East and West Ballrooms in the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center, combined representatives from campus organizations such as housing, registration, food services and the Activities Program. These representatives’ job was to help calm new students’ apprehensions about starting their first semester at BYU-I.

The booths were informative, and students collected a lot of pamphlets from them, Amy Butler, a freshman from Chicago, said.

“People were more than willing to help you. Everything was right at my fingertips,” Butler said.

The purpose for the Info Fair was to answer questions and to help new students to better understand the campus, NSO Ongoing Orientation Director Michelle Johnson said.

This is the fourth year NSO has been doing new student orientations. NSO expected 600 students to attend this semester’s orientation. This is about half the number of students that attended the fall semester student orientation, Johnson said.

Despite the lower attendance, the number of students who attended orientation is exceptional for a winter semester, Johnson said.

The incoming freshman weren’t the only ones learning. Their NSO leaders were learning too.

“I’ve learned to use people when they ask to help,” Johnson said.

Representatives at the Activities Program booth at the Info Fair were giving out similar advice by urging students to be proactive.

“Ask questions. Don’t wait for someone to talk to you,” Emily Toy, Activities Program secretary, said.

Activities Program officers answered students’ questions about the program and how students can get involved.

Dawn Anderson, a freshman from Cottonwood, Ariz., said she had interest in the outdoor extension of the Activities Program.

“I am really into outdoor things. It looked like a blast,” Anderson said.

Her parents, Steve and Vicki Anderson, liked President and Sister Bednar’s personal touch. The Bednars greeted the Andersons and the parents of other new students in a reception held in the MC East Ballroom.

In the afternoon, NSO and Y-Team members sponsored a barbecue to help freshmen get to know one another. As part of the social, the new students broke into small groups and played interactive games such as the human knot, tug of war, caterpillar and magic carpet.

“Today’s activities help break down the bubble everyone is in and helps them intermingle,” Devin Fantasia, a junior and Y-Team leader, said.

Saturday’s orientation concluded with a commencement ceremony in the Taylor Chapel. The new students wore navy blue graduation caps with tassels and entered the Taylor Chapel to processional graduation music.

During the ceremony President Bednar instructed the new students that it is a privilege and not a right to attend BYU-I. He also advised the new students to learn and use the “act principle” of the Activities Program.

“We are tickled and delighted to have you here, and we want you to get involved,” President Bednar said.

President Bednar urged new students to wear their graduation caps again in four years.

Saturday’s NSO orientation and their goal to help answer student’s questions made Kristen Drew, a freshman from Alberta, Canada, feel totally welcome.

“It is not hard to find answers to questions because people are willing to help,” Drew said.