Welcome Week Awaits New Mississippi College Students

A Back to the Bricks celebration in Olde Towne, a night with the Mississippi Braves and a fun evening at the Ross Barnett Reservoir are some of the events planned for Mississippi College’s 2012 Welcome Week.

Mississippi College is rolling out the blue and gold carpet for new MC Choctaws taking part in Welcome Week, from August 18 through August 25^th.

“It’s packed full of brand new events to help all new students get plugged into campus life right away,” says Dannie Woods, assistant director for student life.

Contests in wiffle ball, kickball, late night bowling at Clinton’s Indian Lanes, and a Sunday evening invitation for newcomers to visit with President Lee Royce and his wife, Rhoda, are other events in the jam-packed lineup. Students can meet the Royces from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Piazza. On Monday, freshmen and other new students are invited to “The Rez” from 5-8 p.m. Monday.

Back to the Bricks activities starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the city’s historic business district will introduce hundreds of students to Clinton merchants and feature the movie “Sherlock Holmes 2.” Later in the week, MC Night with the Mississippi Braves begins 7 p.m. at Trustmark Park in Pearl on August 24^th followed by a Friday night fireworks show at the 7,000-seat ballpark. A new activity dubbed “water wars” will wrap up the week on the Clinton campus August 25.

Welcome Week kicks off Saturday morning with new students moving into the Christian university’s residence halls, with much of the heavy lifting supplied by upper class volunteers and Mississippi College staffers. That’s followed by a 3 p.m. convocation for students and parents at First Baptist Church Clinton with Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg supplying the laughs as guest speaker. The evening concludes with a 9 p.m. concert on the Clinton campus.

A half-dozen years ago, Jonathan Nutt experienced his first Welcome Week a few months after he graduated from Clinton High School in 2006.

“It is one of the most exciting times on campus,” says Nutt, a 2010 MC graduate who’s an assistant director for student life at his alma mater. “It’s a great way for new students to get to know Mississippi College and hit the ground running by meeting new people and getting involved.”

Nutt met loads of new people who became his friends throughout his four years as an undergraduate.

During Welcome Week, MC newcomers can also meet with Student Government Association leaders, visit with members of the Baptist Student Union, and take time for worship services.

For more information, contact Dannie Woods at 601.925.3830 or stop by her office at 203A Nelson Hall.