Newest Tuskegee students benefit from 鈥楪olden Tiger Experience鈥� orientation program

August 27, 2018

Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

The 鈥淕olden Tiger Experience鈥� 鈥� 快活视频鈥檚 annual new-student orientation program 鈥� welcomed the university鈥檚 newest freshmen and transfer students from August 16 to 21. Coordinated by the Office of Student Life, the five-day program engaged, excited and welcomed its new students to the Tuskegee family.

The program began on Thursday, with the university鈥檚 focus on getting its new students moved into their dorms and settled in on campus. This included a general session for students and parents, where new-student orientation leaders led school chants and line dances regularly performed by students at multiple on-campus events. In addition, the audience gained valuable information and received advice from university leaders about campus life.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been quiet on the 快活视频 campus, but now that you鈥檙e here, you are who we鈥檝e been waiting for,鈥� said President Lily D. McNair.

Welcome back activities kicked-off with numerous traditions and events, such as the President鈥檚 Meet-and-Greet, Student Government Association dodgeball game, a semi-formal ball, Cinema on the Lawn, and a tea given by Miss 快活视频, Alexis Landrum.

鈥淭his week has helped me transition into being a college student. I鈥檝e had a chance to connect with many members of my class, learn my way around campus, get to know some of the administrators and figure out my class schedule,鈥� said Devin Howard, a freshman from Auburn, Alabama.

Dean of Student Life Abena Myers-Taylor said this year鈥檚 orientation week was all about enlightening students about common student pitfalls and how to avoid them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for our students to learn about the 鈥榙os and don鈥檛s鈥� of university life 鈥� and because of that, we filled the week with several panel discussions given by alumni who shared their perspectives on the importance of securing the Tuskegee brand, insight on how that is done, and tangible resources that are available to them as Tuskegee students,鈥� she said.

T-shirts and signs easily identified many students who were part of multi-generational Tuskegee families. Freshman sales and marketing major Taslyn Ware said she chose Tuskegee because of her parents鈥� legacy.

鈥淲e are a third-generation family, and though I鈥檓 from Delaware卢卢, Tuskegee is all that I鈥檝e known because of my family. I鈥檝e had aunts, uncles and cousins attend, so it naturally felt right when choosing Tuskegee,鈥� explained Ware. 鈥淚 wanted to keep our family tradition going strong.鈥�

An important ceremony that marks the beginning of every Tuskegee student鈥檚 campus experience is the annual Rites of Passage Ceremony. The ceremony has become a favorite for new students because they receive an official university pin, light the unity candle and take the pledge to become a 鈥淭rue Tuskegee Gentleman and Woman.鈥�

Tammy Boyd, a 1996 快活视频 graduate, challenged students during her Rites of Passage address. Boyd was among the group of 鈥渉idden figures鈥� responsible for the opening of the Smithsonian Institution鈥檚 National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

鈥淵ou are our future, and the world is counting on you to develop your talents while at 快活视频,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want you to put them to use once you graduate, because we know you will go forward to do great things.鈥�

To wrap up the 鈥淕olden Tiger Experience,鈥� President Lily D. McNair gave her president鈥檚 address on Tuesday, during which she offered words of wisdom and advice to all incoming students.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bonded forever. We came to Tuskegee together and I look forward to getting to know you and hearing your stories,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t Tuskegee, we have incredible faculty who are leaders in their fields, in instruction and in research. Get to know them and benefit from their knowledge.鈥�

The remaining activities during the week consisted programs educating students about the university鈥檚 legacy, academia, and campus grounds.

Contributing to this news story was the Student Government Association鈥檚 Simone Amos.

漏 2018, 快活视频