By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News
PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) – More Wildcats than ever will be arriving on campus starting Aug. 12 as Louisiana College is expected to welcome its largest class in the institution’s 115-year history, 350 freshmen, according to the school’s president, Rick Brewer.
“I am so grateful for the favor of the Lord on Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “All our faculty, staff and I are ready to get on campus and meet our new Wildcats and welcome back our returning ones. It’s going to be a blessed year.”
Brewer noted in particular that Gage Dowling, the new director of residence life and student engagement “is roaring to go!”
“This will be one of the largest classes in LC’s history; that means it will be more fun than ever,” Dowling said. “Students are very excited and can’t wait to arrive on campus.”
Dowling, who began in his position this summer; has worked in residence life for other institutions for six years, and he “can’t wait to serve the Lord here.” His wife, Casey Dowling, is the college’s first director of international student affairs and expects to welcome more than 40 international students this fall – up from eight last year.
Incoming freshman Julia Thompson, the youngest of three from Lafayette, said she is anxious but optimistic about leaving home for her new college home.
“Over the summer, I have been a little bit nervous about transitioning to college, but I also know that at LC I will not just be another face in a crowd of new students,” she said. “It’s such a loving, small community that I know I will be seen and welcomed into the Wildcat family, which makes me look forward to getting on campus and start making friends.”
Having visited campus several times over the last three years to visit and see her siblings, Thompson smiled and said she also likes all the pine trees.
“I am getting excited,” Thompson said. “I found out my roommate is from Michigan so I’m ready to help her love Louisiana in spite of the heat.”
Julia’s mother, Paige Hamilton, will have all three of her children at LC in the fall. She said it doesn’t get any easier seeing them leave the nest but the experiences of her sons, senior Joel and sophomore Nathan Thompson, make her glad her youngest chose the college as well.
“Based on her two older brothers’ experiences at Louisiana College, I know that Julia is going to be in a loving environment with professors who truly care about ensuring my child succeeds in the classroom and out of it. That makes it so much easier on my heart, knowing I’m leaving her in a safe place as she starts learning how to live on her own. I’m super excited for Julia’s future, even if I feel a little sad about her leaving home.”
Wildcat Welcome Weekend will be chock full of food, fun and fellowship to keep freshmen busy – but also a time for making some lifelong friends, organizers said. New students will meet their Wildcat Navigators, who will be there for them if the homesickness hits in the first few weeks. Navigators are upperclassmen who serve as mentors to the new students for their entire freshmen year.
Ariel Webster, a senior from Lafayette, is starting her second year as a Wildcat Navigator.
“When I first came to LC, I knew not one person, and on Move-In Day my parents were in a rush to get back home so I was left alone in a completely new place, and scared,” Webster said. “The reason I love being a Navigator and being able to be there for them for anything that they need is so that no one has to feel that way, and I want them to know that from the very beginning of their new journey that I am there for them.
“I get the joy of meeting new faces here on campus and making their transition from home to college as smooth as possible in any way that I can. From guiding them around campus, answering and helping them with any questions they may have, to making friends and having fun teaching them about LC.”
She said Welcome Weekend is a blast – but just a beginning.
And it kicks off Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. with Move-In Day. See schedule of events for a full list of activities and times. The Bridge 104.3 will provide live music throughout the day, and numerous local businesses have donated food, time and money to make this event possible.
Dowling said Wildcat Frenzy will include ice breakers, movie night, Sunday Fun Day and dodge ball. “It will be a weekend for the ages.”
