Page 5 - ThePhoenix1996-97

NEWS Thursday, September 5, 1996 - Page 5 New Student Orientation proves a success as students socialize; gain understanding of liberal arts Continued from page J cap from the Union army; I have of the walk at the Cyclorama Cen- always wanted one," he explained. ter. "I told my mom I was going (0wear "Gettysburg was the academic one of these hats, and now I'm go- centerpiece of Orientation," Dean ing to be the only one to wear such Horneff explained. II was an ideal a hat in my city." place to focus on "because of its First-year student Bryan Flynn proximity to the college, and it said a "tour guide through the could integrate all the components walk" would have been helpful, of Orientation-academic and so- especially for pointing out the spots cial." of the battle. "The good thing for my group All aspects of Orientation re- was that they got to spend time with quired a lot of planning, according their adviser in an informal set- to Brandy Mulhern, senior English ting," said Student Orienter major and Student Coordinator of Tameka Collins, junior social work Orientation. "The number of major. Students also became famil- people made planning more diffi- iar with professors through the CUlt," explained Mulhern. Homeff mini-lectures they delivered and the Orientation committee throughout the day. formed the concepts of Orientation, Junior Becky Sommer, first but Mulhern actually was the one year S.D., said that the experience who made it happen. She was re- "Gave new students time to get to sponsible for logistics. know one another and get to know "J don't think I've ever worked the area" surrounding WMC. so hard on a project," Mulhern said. "I talked to a couple of people As her last year as student coordi- [during the walk] I wouldn't have nator of the event, she explained Student Ortenters pose by a tree at historic Gettysburg. According to Barb Horneff, the "teamwork MICHELLEHAMJI..TON of the Student met otherwise," explained first year how "It was kind of sad" 10 see the Ortemers has been superb and their attention to detail" has been exceptional. student Kris Rider, an undecided "event end. "When you see a pro- 1995 Orientation was adjusted, the major. S.O. Kendra Jones, a jun- cess evolve, you really want to 19960ri'n"tionwo~'tgowithout ROTC offers new ior chemistry major, said students keep doing it, bUI it's time for improvements for the future. "We • I benefited by "meeting other people somebody else to take it on," she realize thai the first day was totally and having something in common said. said experiences and more for everyone," to talk about-even if it was com- "Overall, Orientation certainly exhausting as she explained how the ,A Homeff plaining." served its purpose," Mulhern said program would be modified. Others enjoyed the free time in as she considered the academic and The Gettysburg theme of Ori- By JONATHON SHACAT has prior military service, - be a town. "I especially liked the social aspects that Orientation tied entation will be the format for fu- StaffWriler high school graduate, and score a! shops," said junior business and together. ture Orientations. By carrying the Concerned about not being able least 850 on the SAT. economics major Costas "In comparison to last year's theme through from Guidance to pay for college? Look into ap- After filling out a general Hadjipsaltis, who just joined the Orientation, the physical aspect Days 10 the end of the first year, it plying for an Army ROTC schol- scholarship application, students class of 1998 from WMC was more up to everyone's speed," provide a common bond between arship. are evaluated based on the foIlow- Budapest. "I bought an original explained Mulhern. Just as the all WMC students in the future. The Army ROTC program of- ing criteria: SAT score and GPA, fers courses for those students who leadership positions (held in high Class of 2000 is largest in 10 wish to experience for one semester school, college, and the commu- a different kind of class, whether with a military nity), an interview or four years. Students who com- science professor at WMC, and years at Western Maryland plete the four-year Second Lieuten- performance Exam (400 m. run, pull- a Physical during ROTC program are commissioned Aptitude ant at the time of graduation. ups, broad jump, and basketball TheClassof2000 is big news. The enrollment figures also do ing more minority students from "I tell [students] about the [mili- throw). But not because the students are not include WMC's first incoming that area. The increased visibility tary science] class and they freak In exchange for these scholar- the first class of a new millen- class of students from its Budapest has yielded a 100 percent increase out....--- 'Oh my God, I have to cut ships, students must make a com- nium. campus who will finish their de- in enrollments from Prince my hair and wake up at 6 a.m.' - mitment to the government to It's just really big, according grees here in Westminster. The 20 George's, nine to 18. without even thinking about schol- serve eight years in the Army as to College President Robert H. students spent the last two years at New students, she said, also arships," said Anne Fuller, a Sec- an officer on active duty or in the Chambers, who noted WMC is WMC-Budapest, the only Ameri- have noted they appreciate the ond Lieutenant working at WMC reserves. Reserve duty is one enrolling its largest class of new can undergraduate college inHun- College's devotion to strong teach- for the summer. weekend per month and two weeks full-time students in 10 years. gary. ing and the increased opportuni- Currently 389 freshmen and 54 "And that program is growing ties for undergraduate students to "I tell [students] about the [military transfer students are set to start beyond our wildest dreams, too," participate in top-notch research classes next Tuesday along with Dr. Chambers said. "There are 30 with their professors. science] class and they freak out - 'Oh returning undergraduates. The 443 students in this year's sophomore "We also have to look at what my God, I have to cut my hair and wake up total new students is an increase class, which will come to us in is going on around us," Ms. of almost 17 percent more than 1997, and more than 50 trying to O'Connell continued. "There is a at 6 a.m.' - without even thinking about last year's entering class of 379 get in the next freshman class over lot happening on this campus with scholarships, " new students, including 322 fresh- there." upgrades to the physical plant and men of the class of 1999. The new students at WMC rep- I know that students pay attention "It's going to be tight quarters resent 23 states, up from 14 in to those details. Our campus vis- Anne Fuller, Second Lieutenant on campus and I've still got 1995. and the number of students irs have increased so more and Two and three year scholar- per year. people calling wanting to know if from Maryland is 68 percent, up more people are seeing a lot go- ships are offered in amounts of Last year, five students from the they can come this fall," Martha two percent, Ms. O'Connell said. ing on and that things are moving $12,600, $9,000, $5,000, and rising sophomore and junior O'Connell, director of admis- Ten new foreign students are en- here. Maybe we are doing things $3,000 to eligible freshmen and classes received scholarships. In sions. said. "I think they told me rolled versus four in 1995 and mi- to improve the campus that other sophomores who meet the appli- addition, five incoming freshmen that ljust took the last room space norities represent 8.6 percent of the colleges just can't or aren't doing cation requirements. The college will be on scholarship this fall, hav- we had set aside for a female stu- class, up from 6.5 percent last year. right now and that might be the offers an additional incentive to- ing won National Army ROTC dent. But this is a nice problem to "We can't point to just one fac- deciding factor for some students." wards tuition for those who Scholarships in their senior year of have." tor that has caused the bump," she She pointed to improvements qualify. Scholarship winners may high school, according to Fuller. Of course, another bright spot, said. "We have continued to build to many of the academic buildings also receive free room, $225 per There is no obligation to the she continued, is that student qual- on a number of strategies and all and residence halls, as well as the semester for books, and $150 per Army for taking either the fresh- ity has kept pace with the in- of those have now come together projected science center which month stipend. man or sophomore-level classes. creased enrollment. National test to give us this bigger class." will upgrade and expand the biol- In order to be eligible, students Contact CPT Matt Burke or 2LT scores and overall grade point av- For example, the College has ogy and chemistry laboratories. must: be a U.S. citizen, be at least Anne Fuller for more information. erages of new students are the run a billboard campaign in Prince 17 years of age when applying and "It's a great opportunity for same as in previous years. George's County aimed at attract- Courtesy of Public Infonnation not older than 25 by the time of people who really want it," said graduation - unless the individual Fuller.