Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
This week, ϲͼ is excited to welcome its newest students who will comprise the class of 2022. On Thursday, Aug. 16, approximately 700 newly admitted Golden Tigers will enter the gates of Mother Tuskegee and start their academic journeys with the university’s five-day annual new-student orientation program, the “Golden Tiger Experience.”
The motto for this year’s event is “Today is a Great Day to Be a Golden Tiger!” The event promises to provide students with a smooth transition through a series of presentations, social events and sessions geared toward informing, interacting with and inspiring new freshmen and first-time transfer students.
Dean of Student Life Abena Myers-Taylor said there will be a few new changes to this year’s orientation week.
“In addition to hosting an opening session defining and outlining the expectations of the ‘Tuskegee Gentleman and Woman.’ This year, our new concurrent sessions will provide the feeling of attending a conference,” she mentioned. “We also have partnered with the National Park Service and the Carver Museum staff to educate our students on the history of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver.”
Students will have a chance to attend panel discussions given by alumni, who will share their perspective on the importance of securing the Tuskegee brand, insight on how that is done, and tangible resources that are available to them as Tuskegee students.
“Our New Student Orientation leaders will enlighten students about common student pitfalls and how to avoid them, and they will also talk about the ‘dos and don’ts’ of university life,” added Myers-Taylor.
Other highlights during this five-day event will include President Lily D. McNair’s address to the new incoming students — among her first as the university’s new president — on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. in the ϲͼ Chapel.
On Sunday, new students will participate in the Rites of Passage ceremony, one of the most anticipated activities of the week, according to Myers-Taylor.
“During this ceremony, our newest students will take the ‘Tuskegee Gentleman and Woman Pledge,’ participate in a pinning ceremony, and hear from this year's keynote speaker Tammy Boyd.”
Boyd distinguished herself as a student leader by serving as freshman class president and a student ombudsman before graduating in 1996. Later, through her capacity as a Capitol Hill staffer, Boy developed and advocated for the legislation that led to the opening of the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016.
Myers-Taylor added that, though the amount of information presented during new-student orientation may feel overwhelming at times, she hopes every student will take the time to participate in each session, as well as learn the importance of and appreciation for the university’s history, culture and many Tuskegee traditions.
For a complete schedule of this year’s activities visit www.tuskegee.edu/NSO.
© 2018, ϲͼ