August 18, 2015
MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER (8/18/15) - East Texas Baptist University was flooded with 160 incoming freshmen students on Sunday as the newcomers unloaded their vehicles and moving vans to settle in for the semester.
The university's Tiger Camp is a transition/orientation program for incoming freshmen that previews the university's official Welcome Week, which officially begins on Thursday and runs through Monday, which begins fall semester classes.
Freshmen come early on Sunday to have time to unpack and familiarize themselves with the campus and each other, university President Blair Blackburn said.
The university's upper classmen are also on hand to introduce themselves and help the "newbies" become acquainted with the university.
"Tiger Camp helps those incoming freshmen students transition from high school to college," Blackburn said. "They have an orientation type of event and move-in and they are able to build relationships with the other new students and the 40 upper classmen ... serving as Tiger Camp teachers."
Blackburn said Tiger Camp has been a proven successful transition.
"With the camp, they already know someone on the first day and they're familiar with the upper classmen," Blackburn said.
Athletic students participating in fall sports officially moved in on Wednesday, allowing them time to begin practices, Blackburn said.
Residence halls will officially be open for move in from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The university's new students will participate in "ETBU Cares" service projects through the community from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
ETBU is a private, religious university that focuses on the integration of faith and learning, Blackburn said.
"ETBU is known for educational excellence that comes from quality faculty and staff," Blackburn said. "We are committed to being Christ-centered where all truth is God's truth."
(Used by permission www.marshallnewsmessenger.com. Story by education reporter Bridget Ortigo.)