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UCPC welcomes new Rams

Food, fun and friends brought together for students at Welcome Back Bash

By Sophia Gravatt

On September 6, 2019

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Photo by Ian Saint: Gage Laswell, dashes up the 11-foot wall, on the ninja warrior obstacle. The Welcome Back Bash included vendors, snow cones, free food and a mobile video game trailer.

Students gathered at the Caf Green on Aug. 22 for dinner, games and a performance from singer Alex Aiono at the Pavilion.

Hillary Johnson, a member of UCPC, said the organization hosts this event to get freshman, transfer students and returning students out of their dorms to get to know people.

“It’s a way for them to have some fun before classes start,” she said. “The main goal is to make everyone feel at home.”

Guests enjoyed a fajita dinner, participated in obstacle courses and visited booths with free T-shirts and other giveaways.

Incoming freshman Autumn Brambila said she attended the event for the free food and games.

“I just hung out and made some awesome new friends,” Brambila said. “My favorite part was playing all of the games.”

She said she was glad that UCPC put on the event.

“It helped students settle in and meet new people while also finding our way around campus,” she said.

Freshman Toria Garrett said her friends invited her to the event and it helped distract her from homesickness. She said she appreciated the opportunity to meet new people.

“I think it’s great that they did the event because it gives the freshman and transfer students a way to get out of their shell and meet new people,” Garrett said.

Incoming freshmen Elizabeth Netherton and Gage Laswell said they both enjoyed attending the event.

“I was just chilling with friends, watching Gage interact with his fraternity and the other Greek Life groups,” Netherton said. “Since we’re freshmen, it’s so important to make new friends.”

Laswell said he enjoyed doing the ninja wall and obstacle courses.

“My favorite part was the ninja wall,” he said. “I couldn’t make it all the way to the top but it was still fun trying.”

Netherton said she was looking forward to seeing Alex Aiono at the concert.

“I love Alex Aiono,” Netherton said. “He’s one of my favorites.”

At 9 p.m., students made their way to the Pavilion for the concert.

“We had a DJ playing a set for about 45 minutes, and then after that, we brought Alex Aiono to perform his set at 10 p.m. for about an hour,” said Justice Medina, UCPC student worker.

“The concert was a great bonding experience for students,” Johnson said. “A lot of them ended up being friends after because they could all relate to the music together.”