First Group of Freshmen Get 'EDGE' at LWC

EDGE leader Kayla Clark of Greensburg, Ky., left, addresses LWC freshmen June 3 in a
classroom in the Jim & Helen Lee Fugitte Science Center. Looking on is LWC student
Jasmine Hammond of Columbia, who will be a peer leader this fall in the college's
Freshman Year Experience program.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- The Lindsey Wilson College community officially began welcoming members of the Class of 2014 on Thursday, June 3. And if the first three orientation days for freshmen are any indication, it appears the college will have one of its largest incoming classes in the school's 107-year history.

A total of 362 freshmen attended the first three EDGE days, held June 3-5. The college will have two more before the 2010 fall semester gets under way on Aug. 18.

EDGE -- which stands for education, development, growth and experience -- is a daylong orientation program for incoming LWC freshmen. The day introduces freshmen to the LWC community and gives them several opportunities to meet the college's faculty, staff and students.

College officials don't expect four more EDGE days of more than 225 students, but they like the way things started.

"A lot of students and their family members want to go through orientation as early as possible so they have their summers free until classes start in August," said LWC Dean of Students Chris Schmidt. "But we were very pleased with the turnout on our first EDGE day. (June3) was the largest single first-day crowd we've had in the history of the program, and the day went incredibly well, which is a testament to the staff and faculty who participated."

At EDGE, the LWC students are introduced to the college in a variety of settings -- in small break-out groups where they met some of their new classmates and a handful of the college's upperclassmen; at lunch in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center; and in Biggers Sports Center, where they completed paperwork and left with a class schedule for the fall semester.

"By the end of the day, we want students to know what to expect when they return for classes in August," Schmidt said. "That makes the start of the school year much less stressful for them and their family members."

Schmidt spoke to the new students' family members at a gathering in V.P. Henry Auditorium. At the meeting, he told family members that taking an active interest in their students' college careers will help ensure a successful four years at Lindsey Wilson.

Meanwhile, students heard what to expect in college.

"When I got into college, I realized I was in a while new game," biology instructor Tabitha Ellis told a group of students in the J.L. Turner Leadership Center on the June 3 EDGE day.

One of the messages students heard in their breakout sessions was the importance of getting involved.

"It is important to find something you can do in life and love," Freshman Advisor Jennifer Furkin told another group of students on June 3 in the Jim & Helen Lee Fugitte Science Center. "Finding something you all love may take some time in college, but this is the place to do it."

And judging from some freshmen's comments, the messages were well-received.

"I learned a little bit more about campus life and what it takes to be successful," said Iseal Reyes, who attended the June 3 EDGE day with fellow Danville, Ky., residents Jonathan Tanner and Zach Lynch. "I also learned a lot about the history of the college, things I didn't know before."

The final two EDGE days of 2010 will be July 23-24. For more information about EDGE, contact the LWC Admissions Office at admissions@lindsey.edu, (800) 264-0138 or (270) 384-8100. Register for an EDGE day  online .

Scenes from EDGE ...
Click here to see pictures EDGE days.