May 31, 2013
For Immediate Release

Incoming students, from left, Brittany Young, Olivia Parrott and Cassidy Scantland, all of
Greensburg, Ky. have their picture made with Clawz at the first Campbellsville University
LINC of the summer. (Campbellsville University Photo by Ellie McKinley)

By Ellie McKinley, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University had over 140 students visit during the weekend of May 23-24 for the first LINC freshman orientation of the summer. This orientation is designed to help students learn in a new environment, invest in their futures, navigate life changes and connect to Campbellsville.

Incoming freshman from Greensburg, Ky., Olivia Parrott said her favorite part about LINC was, “being able to experience the life and freedom on campus by staying in the Village that I would be living in next semester! It really got me excited to move in for August!”

Members of the student services staff were excited to plan the orientation and welcome new faces to the Campbellsville University family, according to Jodi Allen, dean of student services.

Allen said she eagerly awaits for them to arrive each year. “After students and families visit the LINC orientation, they will know they have made the right choice by coming to Campbellsville,” she said. “I anticipate a great summer of seeing new faces and getting to work with the LINC staff.”

James Dean, men's housing coordinator, said, “It excites me to see the new students because I can feel the excitement they feel as they are experiencing their first time at CU.”

To prepare for LINC, the Office of Student Services staff prepares all summer with their team including Allen; Dean; Dave Walters, vice president for admissions and student services; Andrew Franklin, director of residence life; Kyle Davis director of safety and security; residence housing directors Jason Lawson, Tyler Arteburn, Jordan Netherland, James Dean, Jessica Castenir, Sarah Creason and Ahdasza Dye; Rebecca Price, director of counseling services; Pam Tennant, student center coordinator; Andrew Ward, director of student activities and intramural sports, and a team of 24 CU students who serve as LINC workers.

The LINC workers include: Ashley Bolton of Glendale, Ky.; Haley Carman of Berea, Ky.; Emily Cunha of Campbellsville; Dereck Dodd of London, Ky.; Megan Herrmann of Burlington, Ky.; Kelly Hill of Springfield, Ky.;

Kaelin May of Harrodsburg, Ky.; Levi McCamish of Eastview, Ky.; Sierra McGinnis of Burgin, Ky.; Ellie McKinley of Campbellsville; Matt Milton of Clayton, Ind.; Alexandra Morris of Warsaw, Ky.;
Jared Nolan of Elizabethown, Ky.; Clarissa Oldham of Munfordville, Ky.; Michaela Parker of Oak Grove, Ky.;

Shay Pedigo of Glasgow, Ky.; Devin Reynolds of Campbellsville; Chris Rivera of Jasper, Ind.; Andrew Simmons of Utica, Ky.; Laura Thomas of Hodgenville, Ky.; Logan Wolfe of New Richmond, Ohio; Lauren Workman of Nicholasville, Ky.; and Mary Kate Young of Paris, Ky.

“Having the opportunity to work with a dedicated staff that always takes the opportunity to share a warm welcome with everyone is one of my favorite parts of working LINC,” Allen said.

LINC worker Logan Wolfe said, “My favorite part of working LINC is being given the opportunity to meet the incoming students and build relationships with them before school starts.”

While the campus of CU will be hosting other camps such as Centri-Kid over the summer, three more LINCs will take place. The dates for these LINCs are: June 6-7, July 12-13 and Aug. 2-3.

On the first day of the camp, students and families are greeted by the Office of Student Services staff and LINC workers at the Ransdell Chapel to receive their itinerary. They spend the afternoon touring campus and visiting offices, taking a placement test, receiving their IDs, parking decals, setting up their emails and UPO boxes and checking into their rooms for the night.

After having dinner at the Winters Dining Hall, they return to the chapel for sessions with the staff from the Office of Student Services. Students receive their rooming assignments for the semester and parents have the opportunity to ask questions with the parent panel of LINC workers. For the night's activities, the students are able to make connections with other students.

The next day has an academic focus as faculty members from different academic departments describe the classroom atmosphere. Following the presentations, students leave with their advisors to plan their schedules.
Jordan Rhinerson, incoming freshman from Owensboro, Ky., said, “I fell in love with CU's campus when I met the faculty from the music department. It was a perfect fit for me and I can't wait to get started in the fall.”

Emma Laster from Franklin, Ky., said, “I enjoy the small campus that CU offers, as well as the Christian atmosphere. When I'm at CU, I feel like I'm at home!”

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is cjpk.net.