Welcome Weekend
All first-year and transfer students should plan to attend Welcome Weekend all three days:
Friday, August 27: 8:00 am-10:00 pm for residential students, 12:00 pm-10:00 pm for commuter students
Saturday, August 28: 9:00 am-10:00 pm
Sunday, August 29: 10:00 am-7:00 pm
2021 Theme: Decades!
Students will be placed into one of four groups: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or 2000s
Each group will be led by a student orientation leader for three days of fun!
Schedule
This is an overview of the schedule – more details will be published as the event gets closer!
Friday, August 27, 2021
8 a.m.-Noon: New Student Move-In
Noon-3 p.m.: Parent and Family Lunch/BBQ on Academic Quad (social)
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Student and Family Resource Fair: Meet and Mingle with campus departments and student groups (social) – The resource fair is an opportunity to connect, engage and mingle with different campus department and some student organizations! We feel that these spaces are important as they provide students and their families with a sense of community resources that help support as all students transition into Oglethorpe.
3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Parents and Family Dismissal – We’ll see you soon for family weekend!
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Welcome Weekend/Orientation Kick-off (mandatory)
4:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.: Orientation Leader Small Group Session (mandatory)
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and Dessert Reception with President Ladany (mandatory/social)
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Small Group Sessions
- Floor Meetings in Residence Halls (mandatory)
- Commuter Social Event (mandatory/social)
8 p.m.-10 p.m.: Class of 2025 Evening Welcome Event #1: GloCade & Minigolf (social)
8 a.m.-Noon: New Student Move-In
Noon-3 p.m.: Parent and Family Lunch/BBQ on Academic Quad (social)
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Student and Family Resource Fair: Meet and Mingle with campus departments and student groups (social) – The resource fair is an opportunity to connect, engage and mingle with different campus department and some student organizations! We feel that these spaces are important as they provide students and their families with a sense of community resources that help support as all students transition into Oglethorpe.
3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Parents and Family Dismissal – We’ll see you soon for family weekend!
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Orientation Leader Small Group Session (mandatory)
4:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.: Welcome Weekend/Orientation Kick-off (mandatory)
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and Dessert Reception with President Ladany (mandatory/social)
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Small Group Sessions
- Floor Meetings in Residence Halls (mandatory)
- Commuter Social Event (mandatory/social)
8 p.m.-10 p.m.: Class of 2025 Evening Welcome Event #1: GloCade & Minigolf (social)
Saturday, August 28, 2021
9 a.m.-11 a.m.: Breakfast
11 a.m.-Noon: Playfair (mandatory) – Playfair is a high-spirited, high-energy event to help everyone feel part of Oglethorpe’s exciting new community. It is a mix of team building, comedy and lots of fun.
Noon-2 p.m.: Lunch with orientation leader group and giveaways
2:30 p.m.- 3:15 p.m.: Class of 2025 Picture (mandatory/social)

Darryl Bellamy
3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.: Guest Speaker Darryl Bellamy, Fearless First Years (mandatory) – Darryl has collected, read, and shared thousands of students’ fears on campuses all over the country. He prides himself in reading every fear, which keeps him connected with what students are feeling and at times, hiding. His energy is infectious, and Darryl will move you from fearful to fearless.
Darryl Bellamy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012, and three years later became a Corporate America dropout after quitting his job to travel the country inspiring students to conquer their fears and self-doubt. His presentation will be followed by Q&A.
4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Darryl Bellamy (meet and greet)
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner via Food Trucks
7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Welcome Event Night #2 – Movie Night (social)
9 a.m.-11 a.m.: Breakfast

Darryl Bellamy
11 a.m.-Noon: Guest Speaker Darryl Bellamy, Fearless First Years (mandatory) – Darryl has collected, read, and shared thousands of students’ fears on campuses all over the country. He prides himself in reading every fear, which keeps him connected with what students are feeling and at times, hiding. His energy is infectious, and Darryl will move you from fearful to fearless.
Darryl Bellamy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012, and three years later became a Corporate America dropout after quitting his job to travel the country inspiring students to conquer their fears and self-doubt. His presentation will be followed by Q&A.
Followed by Darryl Bellamy (meet and greet)
Noon-2 p.m.: Lunch with orientation leader group and giveaways
2:30 p.m.- 3:15 p.m.: Class of 2025 Picture (mandatory/social)
3:30 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Playfair (mandatory) – Playfair is a high-spirited, high-energy event to help everyone feel part of Oglethorpe’s exciting new community. It is a mix of team building, comedy and lots of fun.
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner via Food Trucks
7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Welcome Event Night #2 – Movie Night (social)
Sunday, August 29, 2021
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: Ecumenical Service or Mindful & Wellness Session (social) – Mindful & Wellness session features Goat Yoga! Hosted by Natasha Byrd Associate Director of Student Wellness.
Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned yogi, all levels are welcome to join us for a mindful, memorable animal experience. Expect to sweat a little, laugh a LOT, and walk away from this GOGA session feeling relaxed, refreshed, and aligned with nature.
Goga during orientation is available to the first 45 arrivals. SPACE IS LIMITED so come early and bring your own mat if you have one! Additional mats will be available. Learn more about GOGA at https://www.lovegoga.com.
ADA Needs Statements: If you need accommodations for this event, please email the Director of Accessibility, Miriam Smith, msmith3@oglethorpe.edu.
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Brunch/Lunch

Tim Mousseau
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Guest Speaker Tim Mousseau, Reframing the Conversation around Sexual Assault (mandatory) – Tim Mousseau is a friend to Oglethorpe and has focused his career on sexual violence prevention and masculinity on college campuses.
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Tim Mousseau (meet and greet)
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: OU Uncensored with orientation leader small group (mandatory) – During this breakout session the orientation leaders will debrief earlier sessions and allow students to ask any other questions about Oglethorpe such as, what classes are like, how to become connected to campus, or what orientation leaders wished they knew their first year. Want to know the OU real deal? Ask an orientation leader.
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and Weekend Wrap-Up with Orientation Leaders
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: Ecumenical Service or Mindful & Wellness Session (social) – Mindful & Wellness session features Goat Yoga! Hosted by Natasha Byrd Associate Director of Student Wellness.
Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned yogi, all levels are welcome to join us for a mindful, memorable animal experience. Expect to sweat a little, laugh a LOT, and walk away from this GOGA session feeling relaxed, refreshed, and aligned with nature.
Goga during orientation is available to the first 45 arrivals. SPACE IS LIMITED so come early and bring your own mat if you have one! Additional mats will be available. Learn more about GOGA at https://www.lovegoga.com.
ADA Needs Statements: If you need accommodations for this event, please email the Director of Accessibility, Miriam Smith, msmith3@oglethorpe.edu.
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Brunch/Lunch
1 p.m.-3 p.m.: OU Uncensored with orientation leader small group (mandatory) – During this breakout session the orientation leaders will debrief earlier sessions and allow students to ask any other questions about Oglethorpe such as, what classes are like, how to become connected to campus, or what orientation leaders wished they knew their first year. Want to know the OU real deal? Ask an orientation leader.

Tim Mousseau
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Guest Speaker Tim Mousseau, Reframing the Conversation around Sexual Assault (mandatory) – Tim Mousseau is a friend to Oglethorpe and has focused his career on sexual violence prevention and masculinity on college campuses.
4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Tim Mousseau (meet and greet)
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and Weekend Wrap-Up with Orientation Leaders