By Lori Bredemeyer, Staff Writer
This fall’s Welcome Week theme has been chosen, and plans are being developed based on that theme, said Demetrius Collins, one of four student directors of Welcome Week and Passport.
Choosing the theme, “Go!,” was a first priority of the leadership team, which is made up of the four student directors and eight faculty and staff members.
They also have chosen a song for the week, Hands and Feet by Audio Adrenaline, and a scripture from Isaiah 6:8 that says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And then I said, ‘Here am I, send me!'”
Collins, a junior exercise science major from Odessa, said the main theme will easily be tied to the four themes of each day: mind, heart, soul and strength.
“It’s a good message for the incoming freshmen academically as far as community and getting involved-wise and spiritually-wise,” Collins said.
He added that his goal for Welcome Week, which is Aug. 19-23, is to get the freshmen, peer leaders and mentor groups involved in all the activities throughout the week.
“Hopefully everybody will be prepared not only for the social life at ACU but also really prepared for the college life as far as classes go,” Collins said. “Hopefully we can let them know that ACU is fun, but also it’s still a place of higher education.”
Tim Inwood, sophomore composite interdisciplinary major from Mansfield and member of the Welcome Week Steering Committee, said “Go!” represents mission. As a freshman, he said, he thought missions was only about going overseas. He said he hopes the theme will convey something different to incoming freshmen.
“Ultimately, mission is something we are and not something we do in one point in time,” Inwood said. “We need to communicate to the incoming freshmen that it’s not about going overseas; it’s you here at ACU and here in Abilene.”
In addition to Collins, the other three student directors are: Mollie Mankins, junior marketing major from Crandall; Layne Rouse, junior human communication major from Midland; and Missy Mae Walters, junior political science major from Bentonville, Ark.
