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Welcome Days and Anchors

Back to school on the hilltop

By St. Edward's University

August 30^th, 2024

Welcome home to our new students, and welcome back to our returning hilltoppers! Here at St. Edward's, our back-to-school season is called Welcome Days. During this time, incoming students move into their new residential experience on the hilltop, and we celebrate the arrival of all students for the new semester. New students also participate in Anchors, an event-filled weekend that provides a transition to life on campus and sets the stage for an unforgettable college experience!

Move-In

Returning St. Edward's students showed up bright and early on move-in day to help freshmen and their families move them into their new homes on the hilltop.

Student volunteers help a fellow student carry their belongings to The Village.

Student volunteers stand with a moving cart outside of The Village.

Student volunteers carry a piece of furniture and other pieces to The Village.

Student volunteers roll a cart and carry moving boxes to The Village.

A student volunteer helps a parent take a suitcase out of the car.

Student volunteers help fellow students move their belongings into Jacques Dujarie Hall.

A student receives a booklet of information and their dorm key from a resident assistant at Jacques Dujarie Hall.

Students walk out of Basil Moreau Hall with a moving cart.

A parent rolls a moving cart to Jacques Dujarie Hall.

Students move into Basil Moreau Hall.

International Students Reception

International Student Services hosted a reception for new international students and their families as students get settled into their new home and a new country.

President Montserrat Fuentes stands with students.

Kendall Swanson, Senior Director of Academic Counseling and Support, talks to a student and their family.

Emilio Cano holds a Mexican flag and a toppers up hand sign.

Vice President of Advancement Joe DeMedeiros shakes hands with a parent.

President Montserrat Fuentes, right, speaks with a student and their family.

A student holds a photo frame.

Students sit and chat together.

Students and family members stand and chat.

Students stand together and hold a Brazilian flag.

Yael Abbo stands and chats with other students.

Medallion Ceremony

Anchors weekend kicked off with the Medallion Ceremony, where faculty members bestow new students with medallions, which they will keep with them and wear on graduation day with their cap and gown.

Phillipe Seminet, Associate Professor of French, shakes hands with a student during the Medallion Ceremony.

Natalie Beck Aguilera, Assistant Professor of Social Work, and Matthew Steffenson, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, speak during the Medallion Ceremony.

President Montserrat Fuentes addresses students during the Medallion Ceremony.

A student shakes hands with a professor during the Medallion Ceremony.

A student receives their medallion from a professor during the Medallion Ceremony.

A student holds their medallion during the Medallion Ceremony.

Students receive their medallions during the Medallion Ceremony.

Professor Megan DeWhatley shakes hands with a student after giving them their medallion during the Medallion Ceremony.

A student smiles after receiving their medallion during the Medallion Ceremony.

Students hold up their medallions during the Medallion Ceremony.

Legacy Walk

Students participated in the Legacy Walk, one of the most cherished traditions at St. Edward's where hilltoppers walk about campus and through Main Building's red doors, signifying the start of their collegiate academic journey.

Students walk up the steps of Main Building during the Legacy Walk.

Family line the sidewalk as students walk towards Main Building during the Legacy Walk.

Families take photos of their students during the Legacy Walk.

Students walk up the steps of Main Building during the Legacy Walk.

President Montserrat Fuentes claps for students as their walk through the red doors during the Legacy Walk.

A service dog walks with students during the Legacy Walk.

Students walk out of Main Building during the Legacy Walk.

Nursing faculty members cheer for students during the Legacy Walk.

Students celebrate with one another after participating in the Legacy Walk.

Students give toppers up and wear their medallions after the Legacy Walk.

Block Party

Students enjoyed treats from local food trucks and carts, as well as classic yard games.

Students stand by the Kona Ice food truck with snow cones during the block party.

Students get pizza and burgers from food trucks during the block party.

A student receives henna during the block party.

Students play jenga during the block party.

Students stand in line for popsicles during the block party.

Students play corn hole during the block party.

Students play Connect Four during the block party.

A student gets cotton candy during the block party.

Students play a lawn game during the block party.

Students play Jenga during the block party.

COTA Career Trek

A select group of students got the chance to take on their world their first weekend at St. Edward's when they ventured to Circuit of the Americas for a career trek and networking opportunity, hosted by Career and Professional Development.

Students stand together for a group photo during a Career and Professional Development career trek at the Circuit of the Americas.

Jardin Telling, Assistant Director of Second Year Initiatives, speaks to students before the career trek.

Students board the bus for the career trek.

Students look up at the tower at the Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

Students stand on the tower at the Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

Students take pictures and take in the views at the tower at the Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

Brittany Stansel, Senior Director of Career and Professional Development, and Jardin Telling, Assistant Director of Second Year Initiatives, chat with students at Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

Students sit in the stands at Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

The Circuit of the Americas track.

Students stand outside of Circuit of the Americas during the career trek.

Class of 2028

The Class of 2028 came together for their very own group photo! They showed their school spirit by spelling out SEU at a larger-than-life scale.

Welcome Days and Anchors

A GIF of students getting up and walking away after taking a group photo spelling out SEU.

Playfair

New to Anchors weekend, Playfair consisted of speed rounds of group ice breakers and games, helping new students meet others with common interests and forge friendships.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

A Playfair team leader gives directions to a game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Students participate in an icebreaker game during Playfair.

Student Success Center

Students had the chance to meet one-on-one with their success coach and financial aid counselor ahead of the start of classes, making sure everything was squared away and they were ready for their first day.

Success Coach Hannah Fields meets with a student at the Student Success Center.

A student signs in for an appointment at the Student Success Center.

Kendall Swanson, Senior Director of Academic Counseling and Support, assists a student at the Student Success Center.

Success Coach Hannah Fields meets with students at the Student Success Center.

Success Coach Amber Weir meets with a student at the Student Success Center.

Kelsey McClure, Assistant Director of Student Accounts, and Stephen Pilcher, Financial Aid Counselor, meet with families at the Student Success Center.

Associate Director and Success Coach Joshua Urie meets with a student at the Student Success Center.

Financial Aid Counselor Stephen Pilcher meets with a student at the Student Success Center.

Success coaches meet with students at the Student Success Center.

Success Coach Michael Rodgers meets with a student at the Student Success Center.

Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence Event

Be Here. Be You. Belong! That was the theme of this event hosted by Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence. Affinity organizations tabled and introduced themselves to prospective new members as they enjoyed treats for a local paleteria. The Austin League of Women Voters was also on hand to help students get registered to vote.

Members of the Black Student Alliance table at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

Students get paletas at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

A student gets a paleta at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

PRIDE members table at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

A student types their information into a form at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

A student holds up a photo frame at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

Monarchs on the Hilltop members table at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

Paige Kennedy tables for Campus Ministry at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

Students make friendship bracelets at a Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

A League of Women Voters member helps a student register to vote at the Student Belonging and Inclusive Excellence event.

First to GOat Reception

First-generation students met for fellowship, food and fun at this reception celebrating them and their achievement to be the first in their families to attend college.

Welcome Days and Anchors

Students sit and chat at the First to GOat reception.

Monica Rodriguez calls a raffle number during the First to GOat reception.

Students at the First to GOat reception.

Students participate in a breakout session during the First to GOat reception.

Claudia Briseno-Chavez, Associate Director of Academic Counseling and Exploration, leads a breakout session during the First to GOat reception.

Students participate in a breakout session during the First to GOat reception.

Roel Martinez, Associate Director of Academic Counseling and Exploration, speaks to students during the First to GOat reception.

Students get food from the buffet line during the First to GOat reception.

Board of Trustees member Frank Moore, President Montserrat Fuentes, Vice President of Advancement Joe DeMedeiros and Director of Foundation Relations Meghann Bolton at the First to GOat reception.

Topper Pride Kick-Off

This annual athletics celebration introduced students to all of St. Edward's athletics teams and included performances from the cheer team and a dance group, as well as a number of interactive audience games. It was an especially memorable Topper Pride Kick-Off because the Recreation and Athletic Center court was officially named and dedicated as The Ed Norris '41 & Joe Beck '58 Court.

Students cheer during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Cheerleaders teach new students a cheer during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Director of Athletics Jim Sarra, far left, and President Montserrat Fuentes, far right, stand with donors who supported the naming of The Ed Norris '41 and Joe Beck '58 Court during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

The women's soccer team claps and cheers during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Sports Medicine staff clap during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Members of a dance group perform during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Members of a dance group perform during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Women's basketball team members stand to be recognized during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Students participate in a relay game during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Student athletes clap as they watch a hype video during the Topper Pride Kick-Off.

Foam Party

Foam. Music. Neon Lights. Glow Sticks. The foam party was a fantastical event to wrap up the evening's festivities with a whole lot of fun.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

A student plays in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

A student plays in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

A student sits in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

Students play in foam during the foam party.

Topper Mobile

It's become a hilltop tradition for President Montserrat Fuentes and the sitting Student Government Association President (currently Mikayla Pastrano) to give students rides to their classes on the first day of school. Dawson Pressel, Assistant Director of Student Involvement was behind the wheel and Lisa Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Student Affairs and Administration, handed out snacks and water to students.

Dawson Pressel, Assistant Director of Student Involvement, drives Student Government Association President Mikayla Pastrano, student Emilio Cano, President Montserrat Fuentes and Lisa Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Student Affairs and Administration.

Paige Kennedy holds out her arms in a greeting to Dawson Pressel as she waves and drives the Topper Mobile.

A student boards the Topper Mobile for a ride to class.

The Topper Mobile drives past Sorin Oak.

The Topper Mobile stops for a toppers up moment by the new SEU sign.

Mikayla Pastrano, Lisa Kirkpatrick and President Montserrat Fuentes pose for a photo by the SEU sign and Topper Mobile.

President Montserrat Fuentes laughs while sitting in the Topper Mobile.

The Topper Mobile stops for a photo opp in front of the downtown Austin skyline.

President Montserrat Fuentes, Mikayla Pastrano, Lisa Kirkpatrick and Andrew Moncada chat while riding in the Topper Mobile.

Lisa Kirkpatrick takes a photo of a student as they wave and walk to class.

Footnotes

Photography by Chelsea Purgahn and Erin Reas

FootNotes

Photography by Chelsea Purgahn and Erin Reas

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