Hillel Hits the Road for a Welcome Week Adventure
All around the country, campus Hillels are opening their doors to welcome students back to school. Welcome week events are a staple of Hillel programming — it’s our way of letting Jewish college students know that from the moment they step foot on campus to the moment they graduate (and beyond!), Hillel is here to give them a home away from home where everyone is welcome.
To celebrate these amazing back-to-school programs, we’re setting off on a virtual road trip to highlight some of the fun and unique ways Hillels are celebrating the start of the school year. Read on to check out our first few stops!
FreshFest at University of Miami
There are more than 17,000 students at the University of Miami, so it’s no surprise that freshman orientation can feel more than a little overwhelming.
That’s where UM Hillel comes in. UM Hillel’s FreshFest is a student orientation just for incoming Jewish students — an event designed to help new students make friends, get to know their Hillel staff, dive into some learning and activities, and connect to the community that will be their home for the rest of their college career.
“So many students say they meet their best friends at FreshFest and that it is a highlight of their UM journey,” said Shayna Kling, Springboard Fellow at UM Hillel. “FreshFest also helps to alleviate some of the worry that many incoming freshmen have because of all the advice and connections that upperclassmen bring.”
The goal of FreshFest is for incoming students to make Jewish friends from day one. Upperclassmen are there to facilitate activities, give advice, and make it clear that they’re available to be resources and mentors to the freshman class. This year, more than forty students signed up to be facilitators, who led breakout sessions with groups of 10-12 freshmen. Activities included trivia, basketball, Painting with Bubbie Ross (a play on Bob Ross), and a Jewish cooking class.
“This was an amazing way for students to meet other Jewish students from their very first day on campus,” Shayna said. “Coming into my second year as a Springboard Fellow, it was so powerful to see the freshman I connected with last year step into leadership roles this year to impact the next class of freshmen. Overall, it was a great time!”
Week of Welcome at Georgia Tech
Hillel at Georgia Tech didn’t just do one day of welcome-back-to-school events — they set aside a whole week of programming to celebrate the students’ return to campus.
“Week of Welcome at Georgia Tech makes a huge impression on students,” said Leah Faupel, Georgia Tech’s Springboard Fellow. “Everyone is already looking for organizations to join, people to meet, and places to fit in. During this week, my goal is for all of the incoming Jewish students to be able to find us immediately, know who we are and what we offer, and get super excited to continue to be a part of Hillel on campus.”
With so many events to choose from, students can certainly find a place in the Jewish community. Week of Welcome kicks off with Popsicles and Swag at the AEPi house, which is just across the street from most of the first-year dorms on campus. Hillel representatives meet new students and parents as they arrive on campus, handing out popsicles, swag, and Georgia Tech Hebrew t-shirts. Students and their families can take a break from unpacking to grab a sweet treat and talk about Birthright, Hillels of Georgia white water rafting trips, Shabbat on campus, first-year leadership opportunities, and everything else Georgia Tech has to offer Jewish students.
After the freshmen move in, Week of Welcome continues with Bagel Break, a weekly program with a full spread of bagels, cream cheese, lox, veggies, and iced coffee galore. About 175 students from all backgrounds joined this year to learn about Hillel and everything they do on campus.
And what would a week of welcome events be without a party? Each year, Hillel and Chabad co-host the Jewish Block Party, an annual event that shows off the diversity of the Jewish community at Georgia Tech and gives students a casual way to mingle, get to know Hillel and Chabad staff, and start making friends. With tons of food and music available, returning students join in on the fun to meet the incoming freshmen, answer questions about Jewish life on campus, and get new students excited for the years to come.
“Week of Welcome is our time to engage with new students and allow them to interact with each other on campus,” said Sydney Harlow, Campus Director for Hillel at Georgia Tech. “We work to show off our unique and vibrant Jewish community, and that helps students navigate their new college experience and build lasting friendships. We are able to meet the students where they are around campus and share all the different aspects of our community!”
Congratulations to all the incoming freshmen at University of Miami and Georgia Tech on a great welcome week experience! Our road trip will continue — stay tuned to see our next stops!