Brandon Benitz
assistant to the dean of Student Life, 308.865.1619
NOTE TO MEDIA: Here’s the calendar of events for Blue & Gold Welcome Week for your use in preparing for coverage.
It’s that time of year again as we prepare to welcome in our incoming Freshmen and our returning students to campus. During their crucial first days on campus, when students will initially decide whether they feel at home here at UNK, we have developed a comprehensive range of activities designed to connect students to their Faculty, the Staff, other students, their residence halls, UNK Athletics, the campus, and the Kearney community.
This year’s theme for both Welcome Week and Homecoming is, “UNK: Where the Magic Happens!” Below, you’ll find this year’s schedule of events. As always, there are changes from previous years, including the day Freshmen move in (Friday, August 20th), the times of the Showcase and Chancellor’s Picnic, a new day for Lopers Under the Lights, and others. You’ll also notice some new events like the “Flip Flop Fun Night” on the night before classes start as well as our partnership event at the Viaero Event Center.
Flyers will be distributed to all Faculty and Staff on campus by Monday and posters will be distributed to campus offices at that time as well. We encourage Faculty and Staff to attend the events throughout the Week to enjoy the festivities and to greet and welcome new Students!
Blue and Gold Welcome Week – 2010
Friday, August 20th
Meal Plans Active
7:00 am, Nebraskan Student Union Commons
Come in and get some breakfast via your dining plan.
Residence Halls Open for Freshmen Move-In
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Lunch
10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Commons
Grab a bite of lunch via your dining plan.
New Student and Family Welcome Convocation
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Health and Sports Center
Student success starts here! Hear from Chancellor Kristensen, UNK Administration, and upper-class students about getting the most out of your UNK experience.
New Student Academic Orientation
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Team up with your Faculty and Peer Student Mentors to begin your Academic Orientation.
The Parent Zone: The Challenge For You & Your Student
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Health and Sports Center
Find out about the financial, social, and academic challenges and expectations for you and your student.
Blue & Gold Community Showcase
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Campus Green
Join us for our traditional welcome festival with over 200 Kearney area businesses and campus organizations on display! Meet the Kearney community, and enjoy live entertainment and lots of food.
Chancellor’s Picnic
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, Bell Tower Plaza
All students, parents, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend this complimentary picnic hosted by Chancellor Kristensen.
Pre-Game/Halftime Show
7:00 – 8:00 pm, Foster Field
Enjoy the UNK Pride of the Plains Marching Band as they march through the family
picnic. Follow the band to Foster Field and enjoy the band’s exhibition performance
including the 2010 pre-game show and season-opening halftime show.
Freshmen Residence Hall Meetings
8:00 pm, In Your Residence Hall
Get in and get settled. Engage with your roommates, floor-mates, and hall-mates. Your Community Advisors and Hall Directors will lead you through some great activities geared toward making your new hall your home away from home.
Welcome Back Comedy Night Featuring Steve Hofstetter
9:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room
You may have heard him on Sirius Satellite Radio or ESPN, or read his articles on SportsIllustrated.com, NHL.com, or Maxim. Now, come watch one of America’s best young college comedians, Steve Hofstetter put on a show guaranteed to have you rolling in the aisles.
Saturday, August 21st
Breakfast
9:30 am, Nebraskan Student Union Commons
Grab some breakfast to help start your day off right!
Off-Campus Freshmen Meetings
10:00 am, Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room
Think you know about UNK? Think again! Upper-class commuter student leaders will lead you through some great activities, suggestions, and practical tips, geared toward helping you understand the challenges and make the right connections with UNK while living off campus.
On-Campus Freshmen Floor Meetings
10:00 am, In Your Residence Hall
Meet with your Community Advisor and continue to connect with your roommates, floor-mates, and hall-mates.
Making it Count: The College Advantage
10:30 am – 11:30 am, Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room
This presentation gives you the confidence to survive your first year of college and to use your entire college experience to drive yourself toward your future career successes both during and after your time at UNK.
Lunch With Your New Friends
11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Commons
Student Success Presentations
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Nebraskan Student Union and Copeland Hall
Are you ready for your college experience? Choose from nearly 20 different presentations as faculty, staff and current students offer their advice on what the college student of 2010 needs to know about college, life away from home, finding your fit, and how to be a successful student at UNK.
Find Your Way Around Campus
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Academic Buildings
Worried about getting lost on your first day of classes? Don’t fear! Bring your schedule to the Student Union Atrium and we will hook you up with a current UNK student who will show you to your classrooms. If you’ve already got the campus down, but have other things to take care of, offices throughout campus will be open to help you out. Also, check out the Library and Learning Commons, the new state of the art Planetarium, or just chill in the lawn and play games with your new friends.
Lopers Under the Lights
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Cope Stadium/Foster Field
Get fired up to be a Loper! Don’t miss this celebration as UNK Athletics hosts the fifth annual “Lopers Under the Lights” within the friendly confines of Cope Stadium. Meet your UNK sports teams while enjoying a free dessert bar at 9:00, plus great music, and lots of chances to win prizes sponsored by Kearney’s finest Loper supporters.
Sunday, August 22nd
Religious Opportunity
Sunday Morning and Afternoon
Here is your opportunity to attend the Sunday service of your choice in the Kearney area. Transportation will be arranged by the individual ministries.
UNK Splash Down
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Harmon Park Pool
A special aquatic blast just for UNK students! Free food, drinks, music, prizes, games, and the entire Olympic-sized swimming pool just for you!
Flip Flop Fun Night
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, in Your Residence Hall
Residential and Greek Life, Residence Hall Association, and Community Assembly Night are hosting a summer fun event! The first 200 students to come will get FREE Lopers Flip Flops! Also, FREE snow cones for all who attend and other prizes you could win!
Monday, August 23rd
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES!
Beyond the Wall Poster Sale
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Courtyard
Need to fill that empty space on your wall? Here’s your chance to buy posters of your favorite movies, actors, singers, cartoon characters and so much more.
Blue Moon Photo Booth
10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Courtyard
Commemorate your first day of college with your new friends in the Blue Moon Photo Booth!
Back to School Movie Night!
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm, Kearney Hilltop 4 Theater
Pick up your coupons in the Nebraskan Student Union Atrium over lunch for a $1.06 movie and then head up with a group of friends to take advantage of a great deal! Be sure to bring your own bowl for free popcorn!
Tuesday, August 24th
Beyond the Wall Poster Sale
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Courtyard
Still have empty spaces to fill? This is your last chance this week to buy the best posters around.
Campus Ministries Root Beer Float Party
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Cope Memorial Fountain
Join Campus Ministries and your fellow students. Enjoy free floats and great company while learning their ministries and other civic opportunities in the Kearney area!
John Rush Concert
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Cope Memorial Fountain
Just want to relax and enjoy some good music by the fountain? A UNK favorite, John Rush, who is also known as the “Human iPod”, will perform original music as well as cover songs. Request your all time favorites for John to play while hanging with new friends by the fountain.
Wednesday, August 25th
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Outside the Health and Sports Center
Stop by for free food and good times, courtesy of UNK’s chapter of FCA.
Romp at the Rec
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Cushing Coliseum
Not sure which intramural sports you’ll want to play? Come with your peeps and try them all out in one afternoon! Join your new friends playing Dodgeball, Knockout, Tug O’ War, 3-on-3 Volleyball, and other various individual contests.
Game Night in the Learning Commons
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Calvin T. Ryan Library
Game on! Meet the Learning Commons tutors and munch on nachos and candy while you play Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, Apples to Apples, Scrabble, Chess, Poker, Pictionary, Boggle, Yahtzee, and way more in the Library. Come on your own or with a crowd. New games starting all of the time!
Thursday, August 26th
Destination Downtown!
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Downtown Kearney: The Bricks
UNK’s seventh annual festival for exploring all that Downtown Kearney has to offer. Enjoy the ambiance, live music, caricature artists, student discounts, prizes, free food, street performers, and other exciting activities. Trolleys hosted by UNK Alumni run between the Union and URS to The Bricks all evening.
Friday, August 27th
Blue and Gold Rock and Skate
8:00 pm – Midnight, Viaero Event Center
Don’t miss out on this first-time event where the Lopers and the Storm team up to provide a fun-filled evening full of games, raffle prizes (including a flatscreen TV, tickets to upcoming concerts, hockey games and more,) all while rocking out to live music from Soca Jukebox while you’re on ice-skates! Then, get ready for an old school pep rally as we build up to the Loper home football opener against long time rival Wayne State. Trolleys hosted by your favorite Storm hockey players run between the Union and URS to the Arena all evening.
Saturday, August 28th
Loper Football Home Opener
6:00 pm, Cope Stadium/Foster Field
Come cheer on the defending RMAC Champion UNK Loper football team as they take on Wayne State College.
Outdoor Movie
Dusk, Stout/Mantor Courtyard
After the game, bring a blanket and a friend; the pop and popcorn are on us! Join a few hundred of your new friends on a beautiful Saturday night and watch “IronMan 2”!
Wednesday, September 1st
Student Organization and Civic Engagement Fair!
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Cope Memorial Fountain
Getting involved at UNK will enhance your college experience, not to mention help you develop your leadership skills! Talk with current student leaders and get information about the 150+ Student Organizations at UNK and learn about the various service organizations in the Kearney area.
KLPR Live Broadcast
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Nebraskan Student Union Courtyard
While visiting the Student Organization and Civic Engagement Fair, stop by the KLPR Campus Radio booth and request your favorite songs. Get your voice on the air while listening to UNK’s favorite student radio station – KLPR 91.3 FM!
‘Kearney’val!
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Cope Memorial Fountain
Come one, Come all, to RHA’s ‘Kearney’val! Sponsored by your Residence Hall Association (RHA), ‘Kearney’val is sure to be a great way to jump start your college experience! This is definitely an event with attitude, as you can challenge one another to duels on the pedestal jousts, take a flying leap at the velcro wall, or race your friends through the huge inflatable obstacle courses. For the less competitive, there will be a wide array of other games and prizes. So, grab a friend and come join us for music, carnival food, and a rousing good time!
