Impact co-directors and University Communications and Marketing brought fresh ideas to re-brand new-student orientation. S ophomore psychology major Lindsey Bender and junior public relations major Luke Humphrey co-led the 2018 summer Bison Bound --- formerly known as Stampede --- and Impact. Assistant Professor and Dean of the Center for StudentSuccess Dr. Kevin Kehl oversaw summer orientation and served as the advisor for Bender and Humphrey. Vice President for University Communication and Enrollment Jana Rucker and Kehl worked together on the transition from Stampede co Bison Bound. "It was time to do some re-branding and branding cohesion co unify our messaging and communication," Kehl said. The Stampede to Bison Bound name change was about communicating to freshmen that they were bound for something, bound for Harding, their home for the next four years. "There was some sense in which Stampede communicated chaos, or 'hurry up and gee here and run through,' and it served a purpose," Kehl said. "It was good, but we were really wanting to communicate belonging. You'll see the [message] that you belong at Harding, that goes along with our community of mission." Bison Bound was more than just a name change. An entire re-design involving graphics and print material followed. Every department participated in helping create brand cohesion due to new policies put in place by university communications. The programs for Bison Bound were also changed inside and out. Co-directors Bender and Humphrey made plans co better connect students during the summer orientation sessions. While the summer sessions covered more administrative work, like creating freshman schedules, Bender and Humphrey wanted to create a space where students could intermingle, create friendships and potentially find a roommate. "In the past, we've done a pizza parry in the student center; we have pizza, there's music, people mingle [and] that's it," Bender said. "I feel like I just got my pizza and left when I was a freshman. So, something Luke and I wanted to implement was meeting people without the pressure of meeting people." A roommate mixer was created in the pit of the student center to help students who had not found a roommate and to encourage those who would be future roommates to get to know each other. "There were a lot of times when I would go up to people and they would be like 'I just met a potential roommate,"' Bender said. "So, I've heard a lot of good things about it or a lot of success stories I guess." The co-directors' duties were not limited co only Bison Bound but also included Impact. Impact allowed both Bender and Humphrey to take on more responsibilities and be more involved. "We tried to add our own aspect to Impact," Humphrey said. "For example, lnflateaganza, we kind of kicked that one to the curb. Instead, we had a [Student Association (SA)] tailgate where we partnered with the [SA] and [senior SA President] Hallie Hite." The service project, which traditionally happened opposite Inflaceaganza, made an attempt at popping the "Harding bubble" by getting students more involved with the Searcycommunity. "The service project started off at the trailer park behind College Church," Humphrey said. "And we just kind of helped out around there, picking up trash and doing any kind of maintenance they needed. From there, it just kind of escalated, and it turned into more of a community outreach thing." Successes from the summer were noticed at the administrative level. "Luke and Lindsey both were creative, cook initiative [and] were great at leading a team of volunteers," Kehl said. "I would say that they were outstanding. When you take initiative and combine that with creativity and including other people, it's just a winning combination." story by Erin Slomers New students and energy group leaders, includingjunior Casey Montgomery, enjoy a camping-themed cookout at the Gin Creek fire pits on Aug. 18, 2018. During Impact, students dressed up for two themed dinners --- camping and thrift prom --- as a way to encourage the development ofrelationships between new and current students. I photo by Sterling McMichael Freshman Cabot Boyd works to remove weeds and tree stumps during the Impact service project behind College Church of Christ on Aug. 18, 2018. Various projects were completed that exposed the needs ofWhite County to students during the day ofservice organized to help promote community well-being. I photo by Sterling McMichael 17 I BISON BOUND & IMPACT
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