As people surrounded Purdue University Northwest’s Founders Plaza, one student was surprised by the turnout.
“This is 100% a great start to the school year,” said Tanya Dhinyai, a PNW graduate student. “Everybody’s out. I didn’t know there were so many people on campus.”
PNy hosted its annual Welcome Rally on Thursday at the Hammond campus. The celebration connects students with on-campus resources and organizations, while also having music, food and giveaways.
Students could hear from about 140 organizations throughout the day, said Salvador Cordova, assistant director for student life, programming and administration. He estimated about 2,000 students attended Thursday’s event.
“We want to show students what we have to offer, that they’re welcome here, that we appreciate them and want to help on their journey,” Cordova said.
Seeing the students back on campus gets Cordova excited. He likes to start the school year with an upbeat and energizing event, Cordova said.
Starting connections between students and organizations is a big part of the welcome rally, Cordova said, and it’s the main reason for the event. He hopes that students will remember who they met months after the school year starts, and it will help campus feel more like home.
“We’ve been on summer break for a number of months, but now we’re back,” Cordova added. “We’re hitting the ground running. The students are here, and they’re all happy and excited.”
Dhinyai is part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a nationwide club that has a chapter with about 35 members on PNW’s campus. The club connects engineering students with scenarios they might encounter in their careers, Dhinyai said.
The group also makes projects, such as a go-kart that about 15 people worked on for a semester. IEEE representatives brought the go-kart to the welcome rally, and Dhinyai said it helped start conversations with fellow students.
“We kind of use that to reel people in and get them to see what we’re trying to do here,” he said. “It’s been great. I haven’t gotten a negative response to what we’re trying to do.”
Catherine Cavazos and Rebecca Albaran are two first-year students who attended the welcome rally. Both said the welcome rally made them more excited for the school year.
“It’s so different from high school,” Cavazos said. “It’s more open and welcome here.”
Cavazos and Albaran both attended the rally after a professor let them out of class early. They both said their favorite part was the free treats, especially the popsicles.
Albaran also liked seeing the students’ different options and activities.
“There’s really a club here for everybody,” she said. “Even if you don’t know what to do, you can probably find a club you like.”
Although the event had a large turnout, Cavazos and Albaran weren’t overwhelmed. They liked seeing other students and the pride in their school.
“It makes this all more exciting,” Cavazos said. “Everyone is having their own fun all together.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
