New Student Convocation - History & Video Archive
History
During the 2016 New Student Convocation event, Gregory Eiselein, Donnelly Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, shared about the unique opportunity students embark upon as they begin their college endeavors. "I can think of few other moments in life that are like this moment, like the start of college. When you are given such an amazing opportunity to make yourself into the person you want to be." For more information about the revival and history of New Student Convocation at K-State, visit K-State 2025 Spotlights New Student Convocation: Reviving a Tradition.
2023 New Student Convocation
We were in Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday, August 20 from 5:00-5:45 pm. With a special guest appearance from the author of the K-State First Book, They Called Us Enemy, George Takei, along with our Distinguished Young Alumni and engaged K-State administrators, we kicked off the academic year in a shared moment of community building and belonging.
2022 New Student Convocation
We were in Bill Snyder Family Stadium, to share in a moment of community building and belonging. On Sunday, August 21 from 5:00-5:45 pm we began the creation of our students' K-State community with our theme for the year "Your K-State Journey Starts Now".
2021 New Student Convocation
We were excited to be back together in person, several thousand strong, in Bill Snyder Family Stadium, to share in a moment of community building and belonging. On Sunday, August 22 from 7:00-7:45 pm we began the creation of our students' K-State community with our theme for the year "Your K-State Journey Starts Now". During the event we focused on what belonging means at K-State, our university's history and traditions, reflecting on the power of getting involved, and considering our students' goals for their college life.
2020 New Student Convocation
In a normal year, we would gather together, several thousand strong, in Bramlage Coliseum, to share in this moment of community and belonging together. However, 2020 was not a normal year, and we wanted to put the health and safety of our community first during the time of COVID-19. So, we gathered together virtually in the fall of 2020! Below is the full Convocation event that premiered on Sunday, August 16 from 5:30-6:15 pm.
Watch Parties
We encouraged various groups to organize and host their own virtual or small face-to-face gatherings, to forge connections with our new students and to create meaning around the event. Below are some pictures of an FYS class, a CAT Community, our partners in the Staley School of Leadership Studies and the Office of Student Success, hosting their own small watch parties together!
To help with the watch party process, we also created a guide to hosting a watch party, which includes a discussion facilitation guide. The video is archived, so you and your students can still watch Convocation sometime this semester and use the guide to have a conversation afterwards.
2019 New Student Convocation:
Speakers include President Richard B. Meyers, Provost Charles Taber, Dr. Steve Smethers, Dr. Greg Eiselein, Tara Coleman, Brianna Jackson, Bryon Lewis IV, Olivia Rogers, Charley Cull, and Kale Monk.
2018 New Student Convocation and Pep Rally:
Speakers include President Richard B. Meyers, Dr. Steve Smethers, Dr. Greg Eiselein, and Coach Bill Snyder.
2017 New Student Convocation:
2016 New Student Convocation:
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