Incoming Gannon University freshmen for the 2015-2016 academic year were invited to visit campus Sunday and Monday to get a taste of college life during the annual Knight with Scholars program.
Students came from all over to explore their awaited lifestyle at Gannon. Around 125 to 150 students gathered at the Recreation and Wellness Center Sunday night to play games, tour the facility and get to know other students in their incoming freshman class.
Interviews with Gannon Admissions representatives, Gannon students and high school students were available at 7 p.m. for the Knight Scholars at the Recreation Center. All of the participating Knight Scholars were high school students who had already been accepted to Gannon and have been chosen for merit-based scholarship aid.
The Knight Scholars were paired with first-year and sophomore students who were in the major they were accepted into and the Gannon students hosted them for one night so they could get a feel for the dormitory lifestyle.
On Monday, the Knight Scholars were given the opportunity to attend lectures, meet with faculty and administrators and have lunch with Gannon President Keith Taylor, Ph.D.
Caitlyn Williams, an incoming physical assistant major from East Bethany, N.Y., said she is looking forward to what the campus has to offer.
“I really like the Recreation and Wellness Center,” Williams said. “It is so energetic and is my favorite building on the trip.
“I was looking forward to seeing the health science buildings and sitting in on some of the classes I will be taking next year. When I did attend the lectures, it gave me an insight to what I should expect for next year.”
The Recreation and Wellness Center was a big hit with a lot of the students. There were games available, glow-in-the dark yoga and smoothies, but for some students it wasn’t the buildings and programs they admired most about the campus.
For Abigail Allen, an incoming physician assistant major from Wickliffe, Ohio, said it was the people on campus that made her enjoy her stay and visit the most.
“The friendliness of everyone I have met here was my favorite aspect of the Knight with Scholars program,” Allen said.
“I also liked how they paired us up with people in our majors; it gives you a different perspective of the programs and what campus life is like.”
Some of the incoming freshmen were also incoming student-athletes. Ashlynne Darey, an incoming physician assistant major and women’s softball player from Mingo Junction, Ohio, said she can’t wait for next year.
“I am coming here for softball next year as well as for the physician assistant program and I am very excited,” Darey said.
“One of the buildings I really liked was the Recreation and Wellness Center – it looks really fun. I will probably be spending a lot of time here with my team and it looks like a nice facility to practice in.”
The Knight with Scholars program is offered every year for incoming freshmen – who were invited by invitation only – to spend two days on campus to learn and explore the dimensions of academic and student life at Gannon.
BECKY HILKER
