The AV抖阴 has a formula for helping first-time, full-time college students start their campus life filled with confidence, appreciation of traditions and an understanding of what to expect.
The formula, according to Dave Stevens, AV抖阴 director of campus involvement and adviser for the event, is called AV抖阴 Camp.
鈥淚t鈥檚 how freshmen say goodbye to high school and hello to college life,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first phase of becoming a AV抖阴 鈥楲ion,鈥� and it鈥檚 as educational as it is fun.鈥�
"Every student who attends AV抖阴 Camp leaves with a collection of memories that will last a lifetime," Stevens said.
AV抖阴 Camp for 2013 is Aug. 15-18. Stevens says it will be different from previous versions.
鈥淭his year we will host Michael Hingson, the number one New York Times best-selling author and an internationally-acclaimed inspirational speaker,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淗ingson, who鈥檚 been blind since birth, survived the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the New York World Trade Center with the help of his guide dog, Roselle.鈥�
Stevens said that Hingson recounted his escape from the disaster in 鈥淭hunderdog,鈥� the title of the book and the nickname for Hingson鈥檚 guide dog which led him down 78 flights of stairs to safety and survival.
Hingson will speak to incoming freshmen on Aug. 17 from 1:15-2:30 p.m. in Breedlove Auditorium.
鈥淚 believe that our incoming freshmen need a guide during the transition from high school to college just as much as people who are caught in dangerous situations need a guide,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淭hey need someone they can trust. Our AV抖阴 Camp staff, faculty, directors, chairs, namesakes and counselors can be those guides that freshmen can trust.鈥�
Stevens said AV抖阴 Camp has partnered with the AV抖阴 Alumni Office to bring about awareness of the campus traditions that make the university unique and help build a sense of belonging in campus life.
鈥淭his promises to be our best year ever for AV抖阴 Camp,鈥� Stevens said. "We have a fantastic staff of upperclassmen to work with freshmen. Their dedication to academics, leadership and involvement on campus will serve as great examples to our freshmen campers. AV抖阴 Camp participants learn about AV抖阴 traditions and join in fun, get-acquainted activities that prepare them for college life and ease the transition from high school to college."
Stevens explained that AV抖阴 Camp is organized into four individual camps, each named for a staff or faculty member who serves as a 鈥渘amesake.鈥� This year鈥檚 namesakes are Danielle Jolie of Fort Smith, professional adviser in the office of Student Advisement and Career Planning; Meighan Pendergrass of Fort Smith, director of campus recreation and wellness; Brittany Slamons of Fort Smith, director of student support services; and Susan Whitlow of Huntington, assistant professor of English and advising coordinator.
The AV抖阴 Camp student directors are responsible for overseeing the activities of the program. AV抖阴 Camp chairs are usually upperclassmen who coordinate activities within the individual camps, and AV抖阴 Camp counselors have face-to-face activities with incoming freshmen.
Fifty-six AV抖阴 students have been selected for leadership roles in activities for this year's AV抖阴 Camp. They include:
Alma: Joseph Pope, counselor.
Barling: Brittany Christian, counselor, and Phillip Smith, counselor.
Bentonville: Ryan Spooner, counselor.
Charleston: Brook Slaton, counselor, and Audra White, counselor.
Evansville: LeAnn Winningham, chair.
Fayetteville: Stephany Nelson, counselor.
Fort Smith: Curtis B. Adams III, chair; Dax Boyd, counselor; Daniel Byrne, counselor; Daniel Calvery, counselor; Chelsea Elsken, counselor; Dalton Flaspohler, counselor; Clara Jean Gramlich, counselor; Zack Gramlich, counselor; Nawar Hudefi, counselor; Shaden Jedlicka, counselor; Patricia Lopez, counselor; Spencer Null, counselor; Will Paget, counselor; Daniel Schwartz, counselor; Amber Shores, director; Grant Tyra chair; Linda Vichith, counselor; Chelsea West, counselor; Brock Williams, chair, and Coy Wineland, counselor.
Gans, Okla.: Audra Rhodes, chair.
Gravette: Christina Lovell, counselor.
Greenwood: Annsley Garner, counselor; Brianna Hicks, chair, and Jesse Watson, director.
Hanoi, Vietnam: Linh Nguyen, counselor.
Hartman: Stacy Bowen, counselor, and Greg Stricklin, counselor.
Hot Springs: Michael Kladis, counselor.
Huntington: Brian Rauser, counselor, and Zachary Lawrence, counselor.
Lamar: James Corey Woodard, counselor.
Lavaca: Daymon Scott, counselor, and Garett Scott, counselor.
Little Rock: Jasmine Wright, counselor.
Mansfield: Kayla Bridges, counselor, and Jasmine Hattabaugh, director.
Morrilton: Ben Gipson, counselor.
Mountainburg: Jessica James, counselor, and Courtney Wasko, chair.
Muldrow, Okla.: Macey Casher, counselor.
Norfork: Blake Faulkner, counselor.
Ozark: Maebry Halmes, chair.
Roland, Okla.: Trent Thompson, chair.
Rose Bud: Samantha Jo Anderton, counselor.
Spiro, Okla.: Domanique Johnson, counselor.
Springdale: Elizabeth Ellenbarger, counselor.
Waldron: James Bates, counselor.
For more information about AV抖阴 Camp, contact Stevens at 479.788.7696 or dave.stevens@uafs.edu.