Wednesday, August 04, 2010

The students are headed back to town, and UNCWelcome events are here to help them feel at home. More than 1,900 freshman and 11,000 other University of North Carolina Wilmington students will gear up for a new year of classes with fun activities like the all-day Beach Blast celebration, campus fireworks and an involvement carnival.

For more than 10 years, UNCWelcome has offered fun and sober events designed to aid students of all backgrounds with their transition into college.

Unless specified, below events are open ONLY to media and the UNCW community:

Saturday, Aug. 14

Annual Move-In celebration, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

More than 1,600 volunteers will help freshmen move into residence halls as part of a longstanding UNCWelcome tradition. In a matter of minutes, volunteers in teal will cheer on families as they pull up to residence halls, swarm their vehicles and move students into their new rooms. Nearly 40 percent of UNCW students will live in on-campus housing this year.

Monday, Aug. 16

Class of 2014 Trask Trek, Convocation, 10 a.m. – noon

All-campus lunch, noon

The campus will be covered in an ocean of teal when new students gather and walk the first "Trask Trek" of the semester, starting at the Clock Tower and ending in Trask Coliseum where the Class of 2014 flag will be unveiled. An all-campus lunch celebration on the lawn near Hoggard and Alderman halls will follow.

Tuesday, Aug. 17

Beach Blast, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., best visual opps - noon - 2 p.m.

Official Beach Sweep, 4 - 6 p.m.

An alcohol-free day at Crystal Pier at Wrightsville Beach will be followed by a student clean-up of the beach. More than 2,500 students are expected to soak up the sun, surf the waves, enjoy free music and other activities at the annual UNCW Beach Blast. A UNCW student ID will be required to board free shuttles, and wristbands will be required to participate in activities. Students will be checked for alcohol before entering the event. The general public will be granted access to Beach Blast, but will not receive wristbands and cannot obtain free vendor refreshments. Around 40 UNCW staff, student leaders and local police will assist with the management of the event.

Wednesday, Aug.18

Student Welcome Lemonade Brigade, Chancellor's Walk

7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Because it is easy to get lost on a campus as big as UNCW, Student Ambassadors will welcome students back with free refreshments, maps and answers to questions at lemonade stands.

Fireworks Extravaganza and music, 7 p.m.

Gazebo Recreation Area near the Student Recreation Center

This event is NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, but community residents surrounding the UNCW main campus need to be aware that they may hear controlled fireworks and music from this closed event. Fireworks to be launched at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 19

Seahawk Neighborhood Walk, 4 - 6 p.m. to begin at Seahawk Perch, Fisher Student Center

UNCW volunteers will serve the community by handing out welcome bags to residents located near campus. Media are invited to join.

Wednesday, Aug. 25

Involvement Carnival, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Nearly 4,000 students will congregate on the Campus Commons, near the Clock Tower. Participants will check out more than 225 activities and booths to learn about volunteer, job, organization and entertainment opportunities at UNCW and in the community. This is a visually active event with great interview opportunities.

Military Reception, 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Burney Center

Student veterans, faculty, staff and military leaders will mingle at this get-together designed to ease the college transition for current and former military members. Interviews with veterans and military leaders will be available.

For a complete list of activities -

http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/activities/welcome.htm

Media contacts:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu