NIC all “in” at week of welcome

The atmosphere behind the SUB crackled with excitement and anticipation of the upcoming year during the Day of Welcome Tuesday. NIC campus was abuzz with new faces, familiar faces and faculty faces. What they had in common: they were “All in.”

A large banner was sprawled out on several tables that carried the declaration, “I’m in!” Signatures in multiple colors and styles covered it from center to edge with the names of students who have committed to the next year at NIC.

“I think it means you’re dedicated to school and proud to be part of NIC,” said Allie Shannon, 18, an aspiring dental hygienist and one of the new faces on campus. Shannon is “in” this year as one of the dorm students. “I’m really excited to be here.”

Games, raffles, booths, free food and T-shirts covered the grounds as crowds of students wove through, observing, participating, talking and laughing.

Amidst the booths, Sean Collins, 25, history major and ASNIC president, stood with a group handing out the T-shirts, which also bore the declaration, “I’m in!”

“The Week of Welcome is supposed to help students feel welcomed on campus,” Collins said. “New students, I feel like they feel like college is a very daunting thing. And I think Week of Welcome kind of makes it more of a fun environment so students understand that college is not a terrifying experience; it’s a fun one.”

But the “I’m in!” theme during this Week of Welcome is not just aimed for the students. It’s to remind the staff as well, said NIC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Mark Browning. He said theme has been going on two years now, and after some discussion, the staff decided they needed to reaffirm it each fall.

Browning said that this needs to be reaffirmed, especially for the students, so that they understand that the staff is committed to them, their academic excellence, and their success.

Browning said, “We’ll help each other, we’ll help you, and we’ll all move forward on whatever journey it is that we’re going on.”