Holy Cross to Welcome First-Year Class

A slate of events will help the 723 incoming students ease their transition to college life when they arrive to Holy Cross on Aug. 25.

Fall Gateways, which runs until Wednesday when classes begin, includes a wide variety of academic, spiritual, community-building, and social programs.

There will be at least one familiar face when students arrive. As head orientation leader Vinny Perito ’08, a biology major with a peace and conflict studies concentration from Armonk, N.Y., helped usher students through the Summer Gateway sessions and he’s ready to do it again for Fall Gateways.

We asked him to impart some words of wisdom to the new class.

“It is my pleasure to finally welcome all of you to Holy Cross,” he says. “I am so excited for all of you as you start your college experience here on the Hill. My best advice for all of you is take advantage of the resources around you. There are numerous people on campus that are here for anything that you may need. These people include your orientation leaders, resident assistants, your professors, the Chaplains, Public Safety, and Dean Freeman, just to name a few. As always, I will be here for anything you may need so please don’t hesitate to say hello if you see me around campus. Good luck with your first year. I know you’ll all be great!

Highlights of Fall Gateways include:

Saturday, August 25 • Welcome & Mass of the Holy Spirit, Hart Center Lawn (rain location: Hart Center), 4 – 5 p.m. New Students and their families are formally welcomed by President Michael C. McFarland, S.J., and the new academic year is inaugurated at the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Members of all faith traditions are most welcome at this Mass which includes the blessings of the new students by the faculty and parents. Following the Mass, parents depart and students go to a picnic. • Welcome to Holy Cross, Hogan Ballroom, 7:15 – 7:30 p.m. Timothy Austin, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College; Jacqueline Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students; and Mark Freeman, class dean for the Class of 2011, will offer opening remarks. • First Night Celebration, Healy Beach/Easy Street, 10 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Join your classmates and enjoy music, food, dancing, games and much more during your first night on the Hill! Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB).

Sunday, August 26 • Dean of Students Address, Hogan Ballroom, 10 a.m. Jacqueline Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, will deliver a talked titled “A Recipe for Success.” • International Dinner, Kimball Main Dining Hall, 5 – 7:30 p.m. Join the Holy Cross Community for an evening of food, fun, and music from around the world!

Monday, August 27 • Class Dean’s Address, Hogan Ballroom, 9:15 – 9:45 a.m. Mark Freeman, class dean for the Class of 2011, will give a talk titled “Food for Thought: Entering the Banquet of the Mind.” • Fall Convocation, St. Joseph’s Chapel, 5 p.m. First-year students, student leaders, faculty, and administrators convene for this ceremony which marks the threshold of full matriculation into the college community. Like Saint Ignatius of Loyola, at the top of the mountain Montserrat, who offered himself for a new and still mysterious destiny, you too will be asked to offer your gifts as a means to enriching the lives of your companions. Father McFarland, S.J., will preside and invites you to join him for dinner at Kimball Dining Hall immediately following (6 p.m.). Proper attire required.

Tuesday, August 28 • “Into the Street” – Worcester County Responsibilities and Opportunities, Hogan Ballroom, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join the resident assistants, multicultural peer educators, and orientation leaders for an introduction to various service opportunities in the Worcester Area. In the afternoon, visit one of Worcester County’s famous attractions such as the Worcester Art Museum, The Ecotarium, or Purgatory Chasm. Box lunches will be provided.

View the entire schedule of events for Fall Gateways.