As an orientation leader, Nichols students gain experience and career-ready skills in event planning, teamwork, leadership, and motivation.
By LORRAINE U. MARTINELLE
The Nichols College Office of Student Involvement has appointed 14 students to serve as 2019 Orientation Leaders, mentoring the incoming members of the Class of 2023 and guiding them toward success as new college students.
The Nichols Student Orientation program hires student leaders to work during the three Summer Orientation sessions (June 14-15; June 18-19; and June 22-23, 2019), during which over 300 incoming first-year students are welcomed to campus. Each session lasts a day and a half, with an overnight component for new students to get a sense of what it will be like to live on campus and to meet their soon-to-be classmates. A special orientation session is also held for families and guests to acquaint them with various aspects of their student’s college experience: academics, residence life, dining services, financial services, information technology, commuter information, career development, diversity and inclusion, community standards, campus wellness, and athletics.
As an orientation leader, students gain experience and career-ready skills in event planning, teamwork, leadership, and motivation. The position entails participating in spring training led by the Nichols Student Involvement Office and Bison Orientation Leadership Team (BOLT) coordinators; leading discussion groups with incoming students and family members; facilitating “ice breakers” and other interactive and engaging group activities; assisting in the preparation of orientation activities and materials; explaining to incoming students academic opportunities and procedures; and acclimating incoming students with campus services and building locations. They are expected to act as a positive role model—on and off campus.
“Orientation leaders are an essential part of welcoming the incoming class of Bison each summer,” said Elizabeth Gionfriddo, director of student involvement and co-chair of the Emerging Leaders Program at Nichols College. “Our Orientation team is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for the Class of 2023; our goal is to have each member of the new class feel before they leave Orientation as though they have a place to belong on campus.
“The Nichols College community very much looks forward to introducing the Class of 2023 to The Hill over the next few weeks,” she added.
Orientation Leaders apply and go through an interview process.Candidates submit a two-page application, cover letter, resume, and two references.The students selected to be orientation leaders possess energy, enthusiasm, a sense of humor, open mind, and a positive attitude; have the ability to be flexible in a busy work environment and the desire to work with students, families, faculty, and staff; be in good academic and disciplinary standing; have a willingness to work hard and take initiative; and have pride in all aspects of Nichols College.
“We put together a diverse team that represents the Nichols community,” said Gionfriddo. “We want them to care about the first-year student experience, and be good mentors.”
The following students were named Orientation Leaders:
- Lexxus Andrews ’20 of Uxbridge, Mass.
- Richard Case ’21 of Watertown, N.Y.
- John Champagne ’20 of Dudley, Mass.
- Steven Constas ’22 of Dover, N.H.
- Brooke Downey ’19 (team coordinator) of Middleboro, Mass.
- Kelly Ferreira ’19 (team coordinator) of Falmouth, Mass.
- Nathan Foster ’20 of West Chazy, N.Y.
- Joshua Jones ’22 of Milford, Mass.
- Matthew Mason ’21 of Buzzards Bay, Mass.
- Liam Maynard ’21 of Upton, Mass.
- Taylor McIntosh ‘20 of West Babylon, N.Y.
- Nicholas Nieuwhof ‘20 of Cumming, Georgia
- Sophia Normantas ’22 of Biddeford, Maine
- Samuel Saintilus ’21 of Plainville, Mass.
- Jacob Sargent ’20 of Bolton, Conn.
- Abigail Thomas ’22 of Alton, N.H.
Lorraine U. Martinelle is director of public relations and social media at Nichols College. Email story ideas to Lorraine.Martinelle@nichols.edu.