08/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/28/2024 17:20
You've heard the old adage about weather in Spokane - if you don't like it, wait 10 minutes and it will change.
The weather changes didn't come quite that quickly on Move-In Day Aug. 23, but the flurry of activity that filled the early morning unloading of cars and decorating of rooms, and the midday Zagfest filling Herak Quad, did give way to a dramatic storm by early evening. With the wind howling and the temperature dropping, the Zag Picnic welcoming new students and their families to campus zigged indoors.
That minor meteorological blip hardly spoiled the fun, as the energy among the new Zags inside Hemmingson Center for dinner was palpable. Nor did it spoil the festivities as the sun was back in full force for the remainder of a Welcome Weekend that had campus buzzing as new Zags met their roommates, attended academic open houses, made new friends at Saturday night's Mulligan Field Playfair and lounged on Foley Lawn for a movie night Sunday.
The transition to college isn't easy for everyone, and one of the overarching themes of Welcome Weekend was the care that Zags show for each other. That was clear through the number of employees helping lug refrigerators and boxes into residence halls, through the presence of alumni helping answer questions from new GU parents and students, and through the messages our new Zags heard at the August 26 Academic Convocation.
Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli welcomed students to convocation by assuring them that, while they might be nervous, "I know you've got this," reminding them of the trepidation they might have felt as high school freshmen.
"At some point," Bertagnolli said, "things got easier, and before you knew it, you were juggling school and lots of extracurricular activities, and you had friends and teachers and family who supported you and your many achievements. Even in high school, you had the courage to push through hard times, the faith that things would work out, and strong support networks. Those gifts, and many others that you have yet to discover, are still with you, and you will not walk this journey alone."
Senior math major Makena Thatcher shared the twists and turns of her academic path at Gonzaga, one that took her through several majors before ultimately landing in the right spot thanks to the inspiration of a special teacher and a realization that she wanted to pass on her passion working as a teacher after graduation.
Photography is abundant on Welcome Weekend.