Orientation Week 2012

 

Students from the Class of 2014

By AJ Nice 

Although it was an extremely hot summer, excitement for the start of classes was on the rise and along with that, Orientation Week.  Like any new thing, it takes time to assimilate and become familiar with new people.  However, the orientation schedule for the incoming Class of 2014 made that transition much smoother and pain-free. 

After the opening address from Dr. Tom Vaughn, Professor and MHA Director, and a few laughs the students began to feel much more at ease and even more excited to get to know one another.  Being asked multiple times of their name, hometown, education, and fun facts they quickly became integrated and by mid-week they were grilling out, playing jokes and wishing orientation week was a little bit longer. 

Students at the UI High Adventure Course

Several highlights of the week included the UI High Adventure Challenge Course, group picnic and the Kickball Tournament.  The rewarding aspect of Orientation Week was that students are given (and encouraged) ample time to get to know one another, which was facilitated by a blind maze walk, high-five partners and a rather stellar group of staff members.  It didn’t matter if you came straight from an undergraduate program or have had 20 years of experience in another vocational field… everyone meshed well and offered many diverse perspectives (along with a few humorous stories).

As a whole, Orientation Week 2012 was very successful and the Class of 2014 looks to continue the trend of excellence in the Health Management & Policy program.