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Welcome Week 2017 Makes MC Freshmen Feel at Home


Welcome Week Activities

A blitz of 2017 Welcome Week activities will greet hundreds of Mississippi College freshmen and other newcomers.

From Move-In Day on August 19, along with Choctaw Fanfare and a welcome from Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg, there’s much to please the newest members of the MC family.

Parents won’t be forgotten. They are invited to join their sons and daughters to hear Swanberg deliver his funny message laced with teachings from the Bible.

“The Swan” appears 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church Clinton. The Louisiana-based Swanberg does hilarious impressions of former USA presidents and legendary actors. He’s a former Mississippi College parent with delightful stories to share.

The marathon of events is a quick introduction to life at the 191-year-old Baptist-affiliated university in Clinton. Welcome Week never gets old.

“MC does a great job at instantly making students feel like this is their new home away from home,” says admissions director Kyle Brantley. “Welcome Week is a week of virtually non-stop events and activities designed to promote student interaction.”

It’s a terrific way to build new friendships. And it’s also an event-driven avenue to get to know what Mississippi College, the Clinton community and metro Jackson have to offer.

Becca Benson, associate director of student engagement, is busy planning the slew of events. The MC graduate is getting an assist from two dozen upperclassmen.

The events kick off with freshmen moving into residence halls from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday. Student-athletes, members of social tribes, civic clubs, the Student Government Association and others will do all the heavy lifting to speed up the process. They will keep traffic moving.

The Welcome Week activity that is always a big hit is Saturday’s 2017 Choctaw Fanfare. Starting at 5 p.m., visitors to the A.E. Wood Coliseum can feast on tailgate food. Guests can also see student-athletes on Choctaws football, soccer, volleyball and cross country teams. There will be time to take photos with MC sports personality Tom A. Hawk. People get the chance to win a flat-screen TV.

The cost for Choctaw Fanfare is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from Lori Bobo of the Alumni Affairs Office. At 8 p.m., fans of the Blue & Gold can check out a Choctaws football scrimmage at Robinson-Hale Stadium. That will be followed by a fireworks show at 8:45 p.m. MC’s football team opens the season on the road in Georgia August 31 to face Clark Atlanta.

Other key Welcome Week events include Sunday’s cookout on the university’s intramural fields starting at 4 p.m. and bingo games beginning at 9 p.m.