More than 1,000 people, including new students and their family and friends, attended the New Student Convocation Friday morning at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)

Friday morning, the lobby of the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center was packed wall to wall with incoming University of Missouri–St. Louis students and their families before the third annual New Student Convocation.

The record-breaking crowd of more than 1,000 was so great that attendees could scarcely walk through the space without turning sideways or offering the occasional “excuse me.” Some groups were lucky enough to stake out tables to chat, while others grabbed complimentary pastries and coffee before the event.

Eventually, family and friends were ushered to the upper levels of the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall to support their new Tritons from prime seats. Meanwhile, the new students gathered by academic units and filed into the auditorium. Led by representatives of their colleges and schools, they filled each row from front to back until there was hardly a spare seat on the auditorium floor.

New students listen intently during the event.

The positive energy was palpable as the crowd waited for the annual tradition to get underway. The New Student Convocation is designed not only to formally welcome the newest class of students and their families to the university, but also to encourage them to take advantage of all the opportunities available on campus.

During the 45-minute program, new students heard from speakers including Chancellor Kristin Sobolik, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Career Advancement Reggie Hill, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jessica Long-Pease, alum and Chief Human Resources Officer of YWCA Metro St. Louis Anitra Lee-Cole, Student Government Association President Luke Hall and student speaker Kavion Norman.

New students also received a lapel pin and recited the Triton Creed to commemorate their induction into the UMSL community. Following the ceremony, they posed for a class photo and then made their way to the Mark Twain Athletic Center to continue their formal orientation.

Hill was the first to welcome the new Tritons, and he also highlighted some of the impressive enrollment numbers – more than 1,000 students from the St. Louis region and Missouri, more than 150 students from over 35 states and more than 100 students from over 30 countries across the globe.

He also implored the students to embrace new ideas and experiences and to relish the change that comes with college.

“Explore your passions,” Hill said. “College is not just about coursework. It’s about change. It’s about opportunity to change and discover what truly ignites your curiosity and passion. Take advantage of the diverse range of classes and activities that UMSL offers and seek out mentors that will help you uncover your interests and talents. Fail forward. Don’t be discouraged by failures or setbacks – they are valuable learning opportunities. Remember that success is not defined by your absence of failure, but by your ability to rise stronger and wiser each time. Use setbacks as steppingstones towards your goals.”

Sobolik graced the stage next and lauded the students’ shrewd investment in their futures.

“As students of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, you are now aligned with the campus that is a trusted partner of many national and global corporations that are based right here in St. Louis,” she said. “UMSL graduates are corporate, community and civic leaders that can be found in the C suite or Main Street all across the St. Louis region, the state of Missouri and around the globe.”

Berberich introduced the deans of each college and school and enlisted their help in carrying on a tradition introduced at last year’s New Student Convocation. He produced a trophy from behind the lectern and informed the audience that the Most Enthusiastic New Students Award would go to the academic unit with the most spirit.

Dean Shu Schiller shows off the trophy after the Ed G. Smith College of Business won the Most Enthusiastic New Students Award.

Last year, the College of Arts and Sciences took home the hardware after students, faculty and staff associated with it cheered, whistled and whooped their way to the win. The college defended the title valiantly, with seemingly half the auditorium standing to take part in a show of spirit. However, the Ed G. Smith College of Business was ready to make its presence known and absolutely erupted with enthusiasm. Ultimately, the afternoon’s speakers judged UMSL Business victorious.

Toward the end of the program, the new students heard from Lee-Cole, Hall and Norman. Lee-Cole, one of the corporate and community leaders Sobolik referenced, recounted her college experience and credited her career success to the lessons she learned on UMSL’s campus.

“When I first arrived at UMSL as a transfer student, I was balancing work and school responsibilities,” she said. “I quickly learned that UMSL wasn’t just an academic institution, but it was a community that recognized and nurtured my abilities even when I doubted them. It challenged me to grow and supported me every step of the way.

“Today, I have the privilege of serving as the chief human resources officer for the YWCA Metro St. Louis. Along the way, I’ve held leadership roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and St. Patrick’s Center, experiences that enriched my professional journey. Yet, the enduring lessons of resilience, service and empowerment were learned right here at UMSL.”

Hall and Norman shared how they’ve grown at UMSL and illustrated the importance of new experiences. By stepping out of their comfort zones, both have been able enrich their academic and personal lives. Hall admitted that he wasn’t at the New Student Convocation two years ago because he was too nervous to attend a big event as a first-year student.

“Just two years later, I’m standing in front of you, speaking to you all today, which I think shows just how much growth you can go through during the short amount of time you’ll have here on this campus,” he said.

During his time at the university, Norman has worked to build an impressive resume that includes being a dean’s list honoree, recipient of the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, chair of the University Program Board and contributor to the Bellerive literary publication.

Student speaker Kavion Norman shares his journey at UMSL with the audience.

But as a veteran transitioning from military to college life, Norman had trouble adjusting to campus initially. He went from routine and order to what felt like “organized chaos.” At first, he described himself as a “normal student,” someone who went to class and went home. But then he got involved with a student organization, and it changed everything.

“You don’t have to have it all figured out right now,” he said. “You don’t need a perfect plan, a flawless transcript or unshakable confidence. What you do need is a willingness to show up to try to ask questions and take the first step, despite it being a small one.”

Norman offered one more insight to the new students before joining Hall and Lee-Cole in leading a recitation of the Triton Creed.

“UMSL is more than a school,” Norman said. “It’s a place where dreams are nurtured, where voices are lifted and where people like you and me find not just an education but a purpose. So, take a deep breath. Take it all in. You’re here. You made it, and I promise you this place will shape you in ways you can’t even imagine. Welcome to UMSL and welcome to your next chapter.”