| Welcome Week at North Carolina A&T State University is typically a time for new freshmen and transfer students to network and make life-long friends. This year’s new students had the opportunity to do that and more
“The reason for so many events during Welcome Week is to ease the first-year transition for our new students,” said Jacque Powers ‘06, assistant director of New Student Programs. “We are grateful to host meaningful programs that connect students with their peers, our administrators, faculty, staff, and alumni.”
To kick-off the 2016-17 academic year, the Office of New Student Programs (NSP) arranged a full week of events that included mixers, open houses, an inspirational service that featured national recording artists Bri Babineax and Travis Greene as well as a comedy show and New Student Convocation that both featured an impressive list of Aggie alumni including Gerard Rankin ‘03, Craig Stokes ’04 and Terrence Jenkins ‘04 to properly welcome the new Aggies to the family.
“We began an intentional relationship with Alumni Relations a few years ago, with a presence at New Student Orientation and Welcome Week,” Powers said.
“It truly sets the tone when students are able to see the generations that our alumni span across, at our current events. We believe that our new students feel more welcomed when Aggie alum young and seasoned, embrace them with open arms, upon their arrival.”
Former Aggie football player and stand-up comedian Tim Shropshire ‘08 agrees. That is why he jumped at the opportunity to host the inspirational service featuring Babineax and Greene.
“It was an exciting, an amazing and a humbling experience,” he said.
Shropshire, now a “clean” comedian, has performed for an Aggie Athletics banquet and a couple of graduation breakfasts in the past. He is also a former assistant director of admissions for A&T, so he has had contact with prospective freshmen and graduating students. He has never worked on an event for his alma mater that crossed the entire student body.
“I feel honored because A&T helped grow me up. I discovered what I wanted to do in regard to comedy while I was there. It was a great feeling,” he said about his performance.
Stand-up comedian Darren Brand ‘07 agrees.
“I owe my entire career and my start in stand-up comedy to A&T,” he said.
Brand is a cast member on MTV2’s, “Wild ‘N Out.” He believes that his success is due largely in part to the support he has received from his Aggie family all over the country.
“No matter where I’m doing a show, no matter where I have been – a comedy club, Wild N’ Out, or wherever, there is always an Aggie in the room,” he said.
“That is why the alumni to student bridge is so important – it’s about family. I’m excited to come home to share this moment with some of my family and friends,” he said before headlining the Welcome Back Comedy Show.
The comedy show was hosted by Rankin, who Brand refers to as a big brother and a mentor. The two are also one half of the comedy group, Freestyle Funny Comedy Show.
Powers said NSP is looking to have more alumni involvement in the future for all programming including Welcome Week, Family Weekend and New Student Orientation.
“New students seem to enjoy the presence of our alumni at our events. We've seen many students engaging with alumni whether it be in general conversation, via social media, or networking after our events,” she said.
“Watching these relationships form organically truly embodies the essence of Aggie Pride.” |
