UNT First Flight Week welcomes students to campus with convocation, celebration

DENTON (UNT), Texas - Students at the University of North Texas prepared for the Fall 2024 semester with First Flight Week, an annual welcome week program featuring on-campus events and festivities. As the Class of 2028 celebrated the start of their university experience, the rest of the Mean Green family gathered to bid farewell to summer before returning to the classroom.

First-year and transfer students were welcomed at New Student Convocation, held in the UNT Coliseum. The crowd enjoyed performances by the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, the North Texas Cheerleaders and the North Texas Dancers while Scrappy tossed t-shirts and posed for photos.

Surrounded by cabinet members, deans, faculty and staff members, UNT President Harrison Keller congratulated the students on beginning their college journey.

"This is a university where we're willing to do things differently - where we lead with our values and innovate the future," Keller said. "UNT has an incredibly rich history and an even brighter future, and now you're part of it."

President Keller urged students to commit to their academic success while reminding them of the support and resources available within the campus community. He encouraged them to embrace opportunities for leadership and self-empowerment.

"Use your talents to make a difference," Keller said. "UNT is here to help take you as far as you want to go."

The event concluded with a pinning ceremony. After reciting the academic creed, each new student put on an eagle-shaped lapel pin, a keepsake to be worn at their graduation ceremony in 2028.

Violet Lash, an incoming freshman majoring in biochemistry, enjoyed seeing everyone's pride in their new university home.

"It was amazing to see how much we filled the Coliseum," Lash said.

The Green Brigade Marching Band led the crowd from the Coliseum to the Library Mall and South Lawn, where the 26^th annual Mean Green Fling was held. Each fall, the event gathers over 300 student organizations, departments and local businesses to kick off the academic year and welcome the students, faculty and staff back to campus. Students gathered to mingle, browse tables and snag items like free t-shirts.

The University Program Council (UPC) was one of many on-campus organizations tabling at the Fling. As the primary student-run event programming board for the university, the UPC organizes over 70 free on-campus events each semester, from live music to karaoke to game nights. UPC president Derek Dotson, a junior studying event design and experience management, expressed excitement at welcoming new students to UNT.

"A lot of first-year students may not have their own vehicle, which makes it hard to go out and do things. So, we offer as much as we can on campus," Dotson said. "I think UPC events are a great way to connect with our campus community."

Freshman sociology major Lauryn Wettengel said she's already started forging those connections.

"I didn't always know what I wanted to do in the future, or what college I wanted to go to. Then I chose UNT and it's been really great," Wettengel said. "It's truly a fun and inviting place. I'm happy I decided to come here."