Adrian College has more than 1,000 attend Sneak Peek Day
Posted Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College held its annual “Sneak Peek Day” on Friday, July 12, and had more than 1,000 students and family members visit campus to check out accommodations, student life activities and connect with different departments before classes officially begin on August 26.
“We were thrilled to welcome more than 400 of our expected 600 new students and their families to campus. It’s always exciting to see so many eager faces,” said Frank Hribar, Adrian College Vice President of Enrollment and Student Affairs. “For those who couldn’t make it, we are committed to providing the same level of support and information through our online resources and future on-campus events. Our goal is to ensure every student feels prepared and excited for the upcoming academic year, and we look forward to a vibrant, active campus this fall!”
Adrian College administration and staff members were on hand to answer questions and discuss the upcoming fall semester so students will be ready to go when they return for Welcome Week, Sunday, Aug. 18.
“Ultimately, Sneak Peek Day is about creating connections and building relationships,” Hribar said. “We want each of our new students to leave campus feeling inspired, motivated and confident about their on-boarding process. Our goal is to showcase the unique opportunities that await them at our institution, help them prepare for Welcome Week, and envision the transformative educational journey that lies ahead.”
Visitors were able to check out the Arrington Bookstore, peek inside Ritchie Marketplace, and tour campus facilities and the freshman quad.
“I love the campus and the feel of the school,” said incoming Adrian College student Logan Passeggiato of Hartland, MI., who came with his mother and father, Michelle and Marty. Passeggiato will major in exercise science and sport management and plans on playing baseball for the Bulldogs.
His mother said the family visited approximately six or seven colleges and universities before selecting Adrian.
“We like the small feel here,” Michelle said.
Anna Emch came from her hometown, Cleveland, OH., with her mother, Linda Garofalo, to get an early, inside look around Adrian’s campus and facilities. She will join Adrian College’s new nutrition program next fall to go into dietary science.
“I was visiting colleges all across Michigan and this one just stuck out,” she said. “It has a beautiful campus and like a tight-knit community so I thought it would be the best choice for me.”
Identical twins Jackson and Elijah Hayward are looking forward to moving from Ypsilanti to Adrian in August.
Jackson plans to study finance and accounting and being a member of the Bulldogs’ track team. Elijah is undecided on his major, but knows he wants to join the football program.
Both said they feel comfortable with the coaching staff, and that Adrian just felt like home.
Their mom, Andrea Hayward, said she was happy with their decision to attend Adrian College.
“I’m good with it. It’s close to home. It’s small. They get to be together and have quite a few friends who are coming here too,” she said.
Two welcome sessions took place in the morning due to the large number of visitors and Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking spoke to the incoming students and their families.
“This is where it all begins,” Docking told the students. “You ought to be so juiced that you’re sitting here! Few people get a chance to do this, but you are here. So, celebrate that!”
He went on to tell the new students that this is where they will decide what career they actually want to go into — they can, and many do, change their minds on majors.
“Some of you may be sitting here thinking, ‘I have no idea, I don’t know if I should be here. I have no idea what I want to do with my life…’ But, that’s why you go to college, to figure all of that out. And the cool thing about this college is, you’re going to be asked to sit in and explore new classes, new disciplines with new professors you’ve never seen before. My hope is that you say, ‘Whoa, I never thought about going into business or education or history or English, computer science, cybersecurity, data analytics, all these new majors we were just referencing. But you’re going to get a smattering over the next couple of years of each one of those.”
He concluded his talk by telling the students, “We are so proud of you!
“There are so many different directions you can go in this life when you’re a young person. You’ve got people pulling you in all directions,” Docking said. “But you stayed focused and clung to the values that we believe are true, American, patriotic and eternal… This is the land of opportunity and you as a young person, as smart as you are, as focused as you are, can go anywhere with that. And we are here to help you every step of the way!”
During the day, incoming students obtained their fall class schedules and had the opportunity to meet their new roommates.
Aiden Taylor already knew his new roommate, long-time Trenton, MI., schoolmate and pal Ian Kramp. The two became friends in sixth grade. Taylor is going into athletic training, and while Kramp is undecided on a major, he is considering the same field.
Kramp said the new athletic dome facility drew his attention because he is interested in the Bulldogs' track and field and football programs. Taylor said he wants to join Adrian College’s hockey or football program.
Donovan Conley of Clinton Township, MI., joined Adrian College to study sport management and be a member of the Bulldogs’ football program.
“I felt welcome the first time I came,” he said. “So that really drove me to come back.”
Owen Callahan said he chose Adrian College to study studio art and English because of its small size, which is like his hometown, Coldwater. He’ll also join the Bulldogs’ band.
His mom, Jen Barringer, said she was glad Owen selected Adrian College.
“I love that he is close to home, so, I’ll take it,” she said.
“I picked Adrian because I’m playing a sport here, I’m playing basketball, but also the marketing program, too, said Aleena McCullough of the Commerce MI., West Bloomfield area.
“It has a beautiful campus and is not too close or too far away,” her mother, Andrea, said. “What more could you ask for?”
“I’m very excited for her after seeing the campus and what’s going on here today,” her father, Greg, said.
For more information about what Adrian College has to offer, or to register for a campus visit, go online to adrian.edu.
