The lights dimmed, and about 5,600 of West Virginia University’s newest students clapped and smiled when they first sighted Mountaineer Mascot Brock Burwell on the WVU Coliseum’s scoreboard.

As Burwell strutted to the front of the stage that sat on the Coliseum court, those claps turned to cheers.

These new students were born to be Mountaineers.

“You are now, officially, WVU students,” Burwell said. “This is a special place, and it’s going to change your life forever.”

Burwell opened up the New Student Welcome celebration at the Coliseum on Saturday evening in front of a mass of incoming students who will begin classes at WVU on Monday. The event was part of WVU’s First Year Academy.

Those in attendance sat next to each other and learned of the traditions at WVU and the exciting and eventful times that await them over the next four years.

“It was nice to have the entire freshmen class together at one time in one place,” said Kylie DeMase, a New Castle, Pa., native who’s majoring in accounting at WVU.

Burwell and Student Government Association President Jason Bailey helped lead the students in two different “Let’s Go Mountaineers” cheers, and those chants echoed to all corners of the gold-clad Coliseum like it does during a basketball game later on in the year.

“These next four years are going to be the best years of your life, just like they have been the best of mine,” Bailey said.

Besides the cheers, the Mountaineers were led by Bailey in singing the alma mater for the first time. And, nearly 30 minutes before the event even started, students were taking part in “the wave.”

Provost Michele Wheatly led students in an exercise by asking them to stand and shout, “That’s me!” when her statement agreed with them. In addition, she had students stand and recite a pledge to go to class, complete the assigned work, read the textbook, ask for help, get enough sleep, eat brain food and “study ‘til my brains fall out.”

“If I do all these things,” Wheatly asked the students to recite, “I have the capacity to graduate in the class of 2015.”

To end the program, University President James P. Clements told a story of one WVU freshman student, Kaitlin Dixon, who grew up with a family that bleeds WVU gold and blue.

“Like all of you, she will begin her journey this semester,” Clements told the crowd. “Welcome to one of the entirely greatest traditions in the world – the Mountaineer family.”

These students will experience life away from home for likely the first time, their first college classes and exams and University events like Fall Fest, Fan Fest and a WVU football game.

Prior to the event on Saturday, students in the WVU Coliseum had the opportunity to vote for their favorites via text for battles like “Jersey Shore” vs. “Glee” and soda vs. pop among others.

Students could also text WVU with answers to certain questions like “Where are you from?,” and it would appear on the Coliseum scoreboard. Students could also take and text photos with their cell phones while they waited for the program to get under way. Those photos were also feature on the scoreboard.

“this place is amazing!,” wrote GreyChipmunk7.

“Braxton 1 floor ra’s are the coolest @wvu” another student wrote.

In all, 1,780 text messages were sent to screen, including 176 photos; there were 1,773 votes in the five polls.

“The event got people out of their dorm rooms and makes them more comfortable at the University,” said freshman nutrition major MacKenzie DeGruttola.

Most freshmen students moved onto campus on Friday to the various dorms across Morgantown. SUVs and trucks were stuffed with the necessary items freshmen needed to live on their own for the first time. Those vehicles lined the streets of Morgantown from the early morning through the mid-afternoon, as the community doubled in size in just one day.

“I’m nervous and excited for my daughter,” said Clarksburg native and WVU alumni Joshua Snider whose daughter, Jessica, will be a freshman pre-nursing major. “We only live 40 miles away, but it seems like 4,000.”

Jessica added: “Ever since I came to WVU for the first time in fifth grade I loved everything about it. I’ve always wanted to come here.”

Freshman Jazmin Adorno and her family from Long Island, N.Y. had trouble controlling their emotions as they waited outside of Summit Hall on Friday to carry a heap of clothing and other necessities up to her dorm.

“I’m really excited to start a new chapter of my life,” said Adorno who stood next to a pile of boxes and baskets that stacked up nearly as tall as her.

Most students spent Friday afternoon unpacking and settling into their new rooms. Others met their roommates for the first time and tried to learn as much about the other as possible.

Before departing back to their dorms following New Student Welcome, students – together for the last time – stood and wore the gold shirts they received to sing “Country Roads” as it played through the Coliseum speakers.

“You have a great opportunity ahead of you,” Burwell told the newest WVU students. “This University is going to give you everything you need to allow you to reach your potential.”

Burwell ended his time on stage with a phrase these new students will quickly learn: “Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer.”

By Tony Dobies
University Relations/News

-WVU-

td/08/20/11

CONTACT: University Relation/News
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