NSO overnights help students form stronger bond with PFW and each other

As the other 109 members of their new student orientation cohort played dodgeball, basketball, cornhole, or board games, three incoming freshmen at Purdue University Fort Wayne sat high in the bleachers of Lutheran Health Fieldhouse. Not actually antisocial, they were future roommates getting to know each other. Except for brief social media introductions, they had never met.

“I feel like we learned quite a bit about each other and about campus, like financial aid and scholarships,” said Rachael Repasi, a native of Schererville on Indiana’s northwest border. “There was a lot of information that I didn’t know that came out of this, and it’s been a lot of fun bonding with my future roommates and other people who are in my class.”

New roomies Kara Otter from Valparaiso and Molly Veite from Middletown, Ohio, arrived on campus at 9:30 a.m. on June 23 to take part in an overnight opportunity as part of the NSO process. They were staying with different roommates on this trip, but the trio took the chance to connect before they move in for the Aug. 25 start of the fall semester.

Though they skipped participating in the fieldhouse activities, the roommates and everyone else were introduced to the PFW phenomenon of bingo during an hour-long session earlier in the evening. Only one new student admitted she had any idea of bingo’s popularity on the PFW campus.

“When I made my first visit, my tour guide was talking about how wild bingo nights are,” said Eliza Jeray from Noblesville, a civil engineering major who loves the rooms at Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus. “Then, I was asking a few people who weren’t my tour guide, and they all said it was true.”

It’s all about the prizes, which this time included great options for a dorm room, such as towels, sheets, games, laundry and cleaning supplies, and gift cards. Hosting a bingo event has become a summer overnight staple during recent NSOs.

“Our goal with the evening activities is to make sure they make a friend so that when the school year starts campus seems a little less large,” said Giang Petroviak, director of student success initiatives. “It’s a long day for them, but they are enjoying themselves and making friends.”

Before heading to bingo, the group ate at a student housing barbecue. Several attendees said they were surprised by the quality of campus food offerings.

Though working under the heat dome, PFW’s student success coaches representing the Office of Admissions did a great job of maintaining the group’s energy level and making sure their charges were enjoying themselves. Coaches were loud and rowdy during bingo, inviting everyone to join in the cheering, and then stepped up to play the athletic events in the fieldhouse, particularly offering themselves as tempting dodgeball targets.

“Not only do they get to experience different parts of our campus and the traditions we have, but they also get the chance to meet their peers,” said Thomas Carroll, group leader of the success coaches and ace bingo ringmaster, drawing continual reactions with jokes and instructions. “On a deeper level, we have a lot more time to spend with them than we typically would at a normal orientation, which is a lot of fun for everyone.”

The following day included an 8 a.m. breakfast and more campus experiences before everyone headed home at noon. The next overnight stay will bring in 119 more freshmen-to-be on July 10.

“Hopefully, this just gives them a taste of the things they can enjoy on campus,” said Dave Egolf, coordinator of student activities. “This is all about having fun.”