New Student Orientation leaders (in yellow) dine with incoming freshmen who stayed the night in Oak Hall for the Triton Overnight Experience. NSO has two sessions left Aug. 6 and 7. (Photos by Kelly Heissler)
The first day of classes at the University of Missouri–St. Louis won’t be the first time incoming freshman Dylan Hoelscher sets foot on campus.
In fact, the Jefferson City, Mo., native and Blair Oaks High School graduate will already have visited the UMSL Triton Store and swum in Oak Hall’s pool thanks to New Student Orientation and the Triton Overnight Experience.
Hoelscher spent the night in a residence hall room and got a taste for campus living and social activities available to him.
“We went to the Pierre Laclede Honors College and played a few fun games to learn each other’s names while sharing some laughs,” he said. “That was one of my favorite parts. After that, we all went outside to the pool, which was very nice. We had some ice cream and root beer to top it off. Then we watched Space Jam outside.”
It may sound like all fun and games, but it meant a lot more than that to Hoelscher.
Incoming freshmen try out Oak Hall’s pool along with New Student Orientation leaders as a part of the Triton Overnight Experience.
“I’m very glad I participated in the overnight experience,” he said. “I had a blast and met many new friends from the new students to the currently enrolled students that were helping.”
While the Triton Overnight Experience opportunity has passed for incoming students, there are still two remaining New Student Orientation sessions on Aug. 6 and 7 (register here).
Students can be just as set to start the school year as Hoelscher feels now.
“I learned many new things during orientation, from where a class is to how to plan my schedule – and a lot about the financial system as well,” he said. “I think it is important to attend new student orientation so students can learn nearly everything they need to know to begin their first year at UMSL. If I hadn’t gone to orientation, I would have absolutely no clue about all of the amazing things UMSL has for me.”
So instead of the typical first-day freak-out, Hoelscher can focus on a strong start in the UMSL/WUSTL Joint Engineering Program.
“I want to study engineering because there are plenty of job opportunities, I have always enjoyed math and physics, and the salary will be enough to financially support my life after college.”
He plans on playing UMSL baseball, joining the Student Government Association and being as involved on campus as he can.
“I hope that I am able to balance hard work with having fun at UMSL,” Hoelscher said. “I have always been a very positive person, and I hope to make many memories.”
