Six eventful summer orientation programs are energizing the Mount Carmel Campus during two-day sessions filled with new students headed for their first year of university life.

On June 16 and June 17, the third orientation session helped put first-year students at ease and familiarize themselves with their new academic home before arriving to begin classes in August. With guidance from administrators, faculty, staff and student orientation leaders, the new Bobcats come away better-prepared to make the most of their first semester.

Orientation Coordinator of Student Experience Cam Howe ’26, OTD ‘28, said Quinnipiac’s 50 student orientation leaders hit the ground running to help new students feel comfortable on campus and start making connections.

“None of the new students may know each other, so it’s really important to our orientation leaders get those bonding activities and games going, so that they’re instantly more comfortable and having fun,” said Howe.

As an orientation leader during the past two years, Howe has seen the bonding begin first-hand.

“In my groups, I’ve seen it almost immediately, which is awesome. I think a big part is encouraging them to learn each other’s names,” said Howe. “By our first meal together at lunch, I would try to make sure that they all knew each other’s names. Once they know just a little bit about each other, you can see the comfort level change completely.”

Howe advises new students to be open to the opportunity to meet their fellow Bobcats.

“When I came here for my first-year orientation, I was nervous, but as soon as I showed up, I just committed to putting myself out there by just meeting people and getting to know new people, and it changed everything for me,” said Howe. “I didn’t know it at the time, but those would be the first people that I would see when I came to school in August. They were the first people that would bring me comfort in a new place. I ended up joining clubs with them and going through recruitment for my sorority with them."

Orientation leader Joseph “J.J.” Saunders Jr. ’28, said he had such a great experience at his student orientation that he signed up to help new Bobcats transition this year.

“We just finished our first icebreaker game and there’s been a lot of smiles and a lot of laughs, so I really hope to be able to build that over time,” Saunders said. “Now, we’re about to have a very lovely meal, which I hope we’re going to be able socialize over, and then just go from there.”

For Julia Laudano ’29, the transition to college life is being assisted not only by attending orientation, but with a boost from her brother, who is also a Bobcat. The Laudano family is from Wallingford, Connecticut. Laudano is also using her time at orientation to help zero in what she may study for her major"

“My brother will be a senior, so he’s gone here for all four years, and we live really close, so I feel like I’ve been around Quinnipiac my whole life,” said Laudano. “It’s very welcoming and all the people here are very upbeat and ready to talk to you. It feels really comforting.”

Quinnipiac’s newest Bobcats filled plates and found seats together as they dined for the first time at the Carl Hansen Student Center. Teagan Beames ’29, who will study economics, arrived from New Fairfield, Connecticut for orientation. He said he liked learning some facts about his fellow Bobcats during his group’s beachball-toss icebreaker game, and was starting to settle in.

“It’s very welcoming. It feels like a family here already, and I’m a big fan of that,” said Beames. “I expect to have a good time and connect with more people, and maybe with some people in my major.”

Sitting at a table and chatting with new friends from her group, Southington resident Avi Webb ’29, who will study political science, felt like she was already bonding with her fellow Class of 2029 members.

“I’m really excited to be meeting all of these girls here. We made it through our icebreaker, and now we’re just enjoying our lunch and getting to know each other,” Webb said. “Everybody’s been really nice, and it’s nice to get to know all these new people so fast.”

Webb said she felt it was important to carve out time from her end-of-school schedule to attend orientation.

“We’re doing course registration at orientation, so I wanted to be in early on that; and I wanted to get a head-start on meeting people so I can keep in contact with them over the summer,” said Webb.

Ethan Sidhu ‘29, plans to study supply chain management at the School of Business. He traveled to Hamden to attend orientation from his home in New Jersey.

“I came here not knowing anyone, so I’m interested to see how I adjust,” Sidhu said. “We just finished our icebreaker, so I’m still not fully immersed yet, but I’m excited to see what happens. It’s been great so far.”

As the day went on, the bonding deepened with special events planned by orientation leaders including meaningful “Celebrating You at QU” gatherings, evening socializing, and a first overnight stay on campus. The morning delivered academic support with faculty meet-ups, assistance with course registration, and sharing lunch with other new Bobcats in academic groups. Orientation’s energetic closing ceremony brought the Class of 2029 together as caring members of the diverse university family and as part of Bobcat Nation.

Many families arriving to pick up their students had the benefit of attending panel discussions and student-centric information sessions on the first day of orientation. The programming is designed to help families partner with Quinnipiac as students transition to independence and successful college life, said Tom Ellett, chief experience officer.

“The Quinnipiac team does this work because we love watching the students grow to have dreams, enact those dreams, and then positively impact that part of the world that they desire to impact,” Ellett said. “We will welcome your prized treasure, your student, to Quinnipiac. We’ll be there for them, and for you, every step of the way.”

In Focus