Returning students to guide newbies during busy college orientation week

WHITEHORSE – Returning students are taking a lead role in orientation week this year at Yukon College’s Ayamdigut campus. They will be on hand to provide advice about after hour’s activities and offer survival tips to new students, as well as lead first year students through opening day, Tuesday September 3.

Second year Practical Nursing student Cassandra Wood is one of eight returning students who will act as orientation leaders on Tuesday. They will each work with teams of 8-12 new students guiding them as they participate in fun activities designed to help them get to know the College and each other.

“It’s hard to find your way around and get to know everyone when you first arrive,” said Wood. “I relied on other students for help when I started here, so I know having us there to answer questions and provide support will make a difference to new students.”

Student Engagement Coordinator Josh Regnier is in charge of orientation week activities. He wanted to involve returning students in orientation at Yukon College after experiencing something similar as a first year student at Simon Fraser University.

“As a new student you want to find support and you want to make friends, and I found that spending that first day in a small group helped me connect to activities and other students much faster,” said Regnier. “Your shared experience that first day can lay the groundwork for some lifelong friendships.”

Orientation week events include the annual pie-eating contest and First Nations feast, campfire, traditional sweat lodge, an introduction to college fitness activities, and student-led info sessions. On Tuesday, the College’s artist-in-residence Nicole Bauberger will be launching the Yukon Diversity Art Project, which will see Yukoners come together to create a 65 panel community mural.

On Saturday September 7, students will hear a presentation from Whitehorse Transit Manager Cheri Malo and then spend several hours touring the city by bus to familiarize themselves with transit routes and the new initiative where full time students can use their college ID card as a bus pass.

The week will wrap up with the two-day Future Routes Festival on September 6 and 7, featuring sustainability talks, a community green street, nine local musical acts, plus headliners Cadence Weapon and Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.

Stay up to date with all orientation week activities by following us on twitter - #OWeekYC.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca