The Orientation Leaders recently travelled to Charlotte, N.C. to compete in the Southeast Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW) conference and returned with a second place award in the song, skit and dance competition for their remix and choreography to several pop songs. The group created words to the beats of different songs including “Thriller,” “Holiday Inn” and “99 Problems” for the song, skit and dance competition.
The Southeastern orientation group consists of 19 members who practiced and prepared for the competition many weeks in advance at their weekly meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They boarded a charter bus Thursday, March 8, for a 14 hour ride to University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and returned on the following Sunday, March 11.
UNCC hosted the workshop March 9-11 including several universities from the southeast region who attended to compete in numerous competitions from banner to T-shirt.
All leaders were required to attend various educational sessions that highlighted leadership topics and ways for students to improve their orientation programs, be of support to students attending orientation and benefit after their orientation leader experience ends. Bernice Cashman, Landon Andries and Taylor Dubois, three returning Southeastern members, presented an educational session entitled, “Putting the Brakes on Stereotypes.”
The group also participated in a service project in which they collected backpacks and school supplies to donate to the Operation Home front North Carolina and their Back to School Brigade. The universities in attendance were able to collect enough supplies to provide over 350 students, whose parents are active in the military, with school supplies.
The leaders were excited about their win and were proud to represent Southeastern.
“I am so proud of this team,” said Orientation Leader supervisor Amanda Hammonds. “They have already grown individually and as a family within the past few months. I can only imagine what they are capable of contributing to our school. Their dedication to each other and Southeastern has truly amazed me.”
The group shadowed the 2011 Orientation Leaders in January and is now training for their first official orientation; it will be early registration April 11-12. They are currently learning team building skills, leadership skills and admissions requirements. The members will also be required to take a leadership class over the summer.
To watch the orientation leader’s routine on YouTube search SoutheasternLouisianaUniversity.mov. For more information about the orientation or how to apply to become a member of the 2013 team, contact the admissions office at 985-549-5637 or email Hammonds at [email protected].