Milligan kicked off its Fall semester last Saturday with an event-filled Welcome Week. For returning students, Welcome Week is a time for rekindling friendship and shaking off the summer rust, while for incoming freshmen, anticipation as they embark on a new chapter. The festivities kicked off Saturday, August 24, with the annual Matriculation ceremony at Seeger Chapel’s Mary B. Auditorium, where first year students participated in the long-standing tradition of writing their names in the school records. A less formal outing was the freshmen-only trip to Doe River Gorge on Sunday, followed by a cookout and cornhole tournament on campus on Monday, a drive-in movie at the Stateline Drive-in Theater on Tuesday, capture the flag (and foam) on Pardee lawn on Wednesday, and a block party on the Village lawn on Thursday.
“My favorite part about welcome week was capture the flag,” said Freshman Social Work major Sophie Smith. The event was hosted by the Milligan Student Government Association (SGA).
Freshman Casey Roberts enjoyed the 8:30 showing of Surf’s Up at the drive-in theater, while his Freshman sister, Danielle Roberts, “enjoyed getting to know people, and also making new friends.”
Welcome Week at Milligan is about more than just foam and fun though. When students gathered at Doe River for the first Vespers of the semester, Dr. Curtis Booher delivered a powerful testimony challenging students to make the most of their time here at Milligan and to engage fully. Welcome Week has given students an opportunity to grow both spiritually and socially, and if the energy and momentum of the first few days are any indication, this semester looks to be one where student’s don’t just settle in but thrive and serve.