Contact: Sasha Steinberg
Photo by: Taylor Howell
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's 10th annual welcoming activities for new freshmen and transfer students begin Aug. 8 with campus residence hall move-in day, MVNU2MSU.
The 2015 "Dawg Daze" program also includes 17 successive days of free events--though limited space for some may require pre-registration at www.dawgdaze.msstate.edu.
The website also contains a complete "Dawg Daze" schedule, highlights of which include Battleship at the Sanderson Center Pool, Service DAWGS Day, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity House construction project, Freshman Convocation, Open Mic Night and various scavenger hunts.
Additionally, The Drill pep rally takes place during this time.
Student organizations are providing participants with free barbecue, beignets and coffee, cookies, cotton candy, jambalaya, pizza, popcorn, smoothies, snow cones, and other treats.
Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt emphasized that the "first couple of weeks on campus are absolutely critical to student success, which is why Dawg Daze programs and activities are so very important."
Hyatt continued, "Dawg Daze is the time when we hope students begin to see what it will take for them to be successful on campus and the many, many resources we have available to assist them along that journey."
Emilie Cravens, Center for Student Activities assistant director, agreed that the annual extravaganza is an important occasion for incorporating new members into the Bulldog family.
"Dawg Daze is an exciting time for new Mississippi State freshmen and transfer students to get out and see all campus has to offer," said Cravens, this year's planning committee chair.
"Students can make new friends and have fun while they interact with the MSU student groups hosting these events and learn about becoming part of their organizations," she added.
The Division of Student Affairs sponsors the events, with assistance from, among others, MSU departments of Health Education and Wellness and Recreational Sports, Maroon Volunteer Center, Music Maker Productions, National Residence Hall Honorary, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Panhellenic Council and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Richard E. Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Student Association, as well as the Baptist Student Union.
For additional information, contact Cravens at 662-325-2930 or ecravens@saffairs.msstate.edu. Also, visit facebook.com/MSUDawgDaze and twitter.com/MSU_DawgDaze, using hashtag #MSUDawgDaze.
MSU, the state's flagship research institution, is online at msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.