A Successful Launch!
Dear Colleagues,
Friday was an amazing day. After weeks of planning, the new Student Launch Team gave us Utica University’s first Pioneer Launch Day – a day for deposited students and their families to create their own experience during their campus visit. Their creativity and vision asked us all to make a leap of faith with them. It has been many years since we held a summer yield event, and Friday asked us all to embrace a very different type of event.
You leapt, and the campus community showed up in strength.
In the middle of July, dozens of staff and faculty members signed up to work at the event. The campus was awash in blue and orange, colleagues were stationed at numerous locations across campus, office doors were open, and the campus was vibrant and energized. After days of hot and humid weather coupled with the unsettling grayish brown wildfire haze, the day broke cooler with bright blue, sunny skies.
One hundred and sixty incoming students and their families attended, and as I walked campus, I saw them smiling and excited about joining us in a few weeks. I saw current students, staff, and faculty enjoying the day; helping and talking to the incoming students and their families, talking and laughing with each other, and soaking in the beautiful weather. The Dining Commons was packed at lunch, and the ice cream station was a huge success. The day was a home run by every possible measure.
Thank you seems inadequate to express my gratitude for everything you did to make the day successful and special. Your efforts and presence made a significant difference for our incoming students and their families, and the joy and enthusiasm I saw in all of you touched my heart. The vibe was infectious and reminded me why I am here.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who participated. I owe special thanks to the fantastic Student Launch Team – Jennifer Adams, Jamie Barcomb-Busansky, Sue Boucher, Greg Caloia, Nicole Cornacchia-Morgan, Brian Gleitsmann, Marissa Hall, Lauryn Moore, Jessica Nelson, Bethany Samuels, and Kristin St. Hilaire – as well as the Sodexo and ABM teams. It is always a bit sad to see the summer wind down as we approach a new academic year, but after Friday I am pumped up and I can’t wait to get started!
With much gratitude,
Stephanie R. Nesbitt
President