First Orientation Extravaganza attracts more than 200 people

More than 200 people, including first-year and transfer students and their supporters, attended the first Orientation Extravaganza August 6, providing new students with a fun setting to learn more about the campus resources that will be available to them.

The Division of Enrollment Development and Education Outreach and Division of Student Affairs teamed to plan an open house that included yard games, food, photo booth, inflatables and giveaways.

B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and Education Outreach, said the event served as a precursor to Transitions, the week of welcome events for new students.

“The event was designed to give students an opportunity to get any transactional tasks completed or burning questions answered," Truss said. "It is part of a portfolio of strategies designed to increase our yield rate."

Danny C. Vélez, associate vice president for Admissions and Recruitment, said collaboration among campus departments made the event successful.

"It gave students the opportunity to finalize housing, ask questions regarding financial aid or scholarships, and we offered on-the-spot job placement. Thanks to the many offices that contributed time, energy and talent to making this a special event for our future Lakers," Vélez said.