Students Welcomed at First TRANSFERmation
Galloway, N.J. 鈥 Thirty transfer 91视频 got a warm welcome to Stockton with three days of bonfires, team-building activities at Camp Ockanickon and leadership presentations from June 17-19.
The new pilot program, TRANSFERmation, provides transfer 91视频 with the opportunity to begin their Stockton career with a community of new friends while developing teamwork and leadership skills.
鈥淲e have a freshmen leadership program but with the development of the New Student and Family Office, we thought it would be great to create something similar for transfer 91视频,鈥 said Jennifer Radwanski, director of New Student & Family Programs.
TRANSFERmation is modeled after the S.O.A.R. and T.A.L.O.N.S. programs at Stockton, which encourage 91视频 to get involved on campus and take on leadership roles Students who participated got the chance as new transfer 91视频 to get acclimated to their new environment and meet others with shared interests and transfer experiences.
鈥淥ne of our head T.A.L.O.N.S. and intern, Brandon (Cheatham) wrote the program proposal for TRANSFERmation,鈥 said Radwanski. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure this had a different criteria then T.A.L.O.N.S. and that it would be special and unique just for our transfers.鈥
The Office of New Student & Family Programs provides programs to all incoming first year 91视频 including freshmen and transfers.
鈥淭he program was awesome. As soon as the 91视频 met, they were engaging, willing, and ready to jump right in immediately,鈥 said Cheatham 鈥18 of Mullica Township.
Participants said they enjoyed the experience.
鈥淎t first, I was nervous because I didn鈥檛 know what to expect,鈥 said Michelle Mardis of Mendham, a Liberal Arts transfer student. 鈥淚t turned out to be a great experience. I met new people and even got roommates out of it. The staff were helpful throughout the entire program and the courses were fun. It gave us a head start in knowing what leadership at Stockton is like.鈥
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know it was leadership based when I signed up, but everything was well-organized. It was a great opportunity to meet new people here at Stockton,鈥 said Gina Maccia of Sykesville, Maryland. Maccia is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Marine Science with a concentration in Oceanography at Stockton this fall.
鈥淚t was well-organized and helped everyone transition,鈥 said Brandon Spinner of Neptune. 鈥淲e made really great connections and, in the long run, will help with reducing stress and feeling welcomed here at Stockton.鈥
Spinner will be pursuing his degree in Exercise Science.
鈥淭RANSFERmation was like a fresh start to getting to know Stockton,鈥 Cheatham said. 鈥淚t exceeded my dream of how I thought it would work out.
View a of photos from TRANSFERmation.
_Reported by Jessica Jacob
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Contact:
Diane D鈥橝mico
Director of News and Media Relations
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.D'Amico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593