As my senior year has just come to an end, I can’t help but look back at some of my favorite Naz memories, and reflect on what I’m going to miss about campus. Besides some awesome academic programs and experiential learning opportunities, some of my favorite times on-campus happened in the first few days, between move-in day and freshman orientation. Also, the opportunity I had to enjoy all of the amazing entertainment and events in Rochester throughout my three years at the college is something I’ll never forget. Here are a few of my favorite moments at Nazareth!
Move-In Day
Moving into a dorm for the first time seems like a stressful and overwhelming process, but Naz made it fun and easy. When I arrived early in the morning to get my room setup, the campus was already bustling with new students and their families, as well as current students and staff willing to lend a helping hand. Nazareth’s hockey team volunteered to help carry my mini fridge up to my dorm, and the RAs were happily answering questions from excited freshman and their parents. When I got to my room, the agenda for freshman orientation was already hung on my door, with an array of fun activities lined up. Naz managed to turn a hectic and nerve-wracking day into a fun and exciting time, and reassured me that I made the right choice coming to this college.
$5 Concerts and Show Tickets
One of the unique opportunities that Naz provides students is the chance to attend off-campus shows and events for an unbeatable price. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) frequently announces $5 ticket sales for world class entertainment and concerts at random locations around campus. On the day of the event, the first handful of students to purchase tickets get the chance to attend some amazing events, with Naz providing transportation to and from the venue. Scoring tickets to see Stevie Wonder definitely tops my list of favorite Naz memories; he played a nearly four hour concert, and tickets that normally would have cost me over $100 were only $5 thanks to Naz. I also had the chance to attend Buffalo Sabres games, and saw sold out musicals like Wicked, School of Rock, and Jersey Boys, all for just $5 a ticket.
Arts Center Shows
While some of my favorite concerts and events took place off campus, Nazareth consistently brings an amazing and diverse lineup of shows to the Arts Center every year. My favorite performance was the Earth Harp Collective, which featured a giant stringed instrument connected to the back of the Callahan Theater, which allowed the audience to actually sit in the instrument while it was being played. The Arts Center has also featured world famous acapella groups, like VoicePlay and The Filharmonic, magicians, and comedians, so there’s bound to be an event for everyone to enjoy. In addition, the Arts Center frequently hosts productions of plays and musicals starring the Nazareth community, allowing students with a passion for performing arts to showcase their talents.
Midnight Breakfast
One of the many Naz traditions that occurs after the last day of classes is Midnight Breakfast. One of my favorite stress relievers before final exams, students line up to receive complimentary breakfast, cooked by their favorite professors. Seeing my marketing professor behind the counter, serving pancakes, was pretty memorable. Even President Braveman gets in on the event, cooking up his now-famous omelettes. After a semester of hard work, it was always nice to unwind, and spend time with my favorite professors outside of the classroom.
Grocery Bingo
Speaking of free food, there are few activities more fun than Grocery Bingo. This event is usually hosted once a month by the CAB, and gives students the opportunity to compete against each other to be the first to get a Bingo, and win free food and groceries from Wegmans. There are a ton of prize options to choose from, and even though a large number of students come out to play, everyone usually ends up winning a few rounds by the time a semester ends. There’s nothing like winning your first round of grocery bingo, and you can skip a weekly trip to Wegmans if you have a lucky night.
Advertising Agency Crawl
As a marketing student, I loved the experience of getting to visit so many advertising agencies and marketing companies while I was a student at Nazareth. The annual advertising agency crawl was always a blast; myself and other marketing students would take a bus with marketing professor Mark Weber, and travel to some of the top agencies in the country, all located right in Rochester. These trips helped introduce me to new academic opportunities, internships, and potential careers in the future, and provided networking opportunities that were unmatched by other schools.
Giving Back to the Community
One of the things I love the most about Nazareth is its commitment to giving back to the community. During freshman orientation, Naz has a “Day of Serving” dedicated to giving back to local community partners. Groups of about 20 new students visit service sites in the community, and spend time getting to understand the importance of giving back. In addition to the Day of Service, I also had the chance to work with Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, where I worked with an entrepreneur from Syria to start his own business in the United States. There are so many opportunities to get involved with similar programs at Nazareth, and I’m really glad I got to participate in these great events.
While I’m excited to start my career, I will definitely miss all of the fun experiences I’ve had at Nazareth. Between clubs, on and off campus events, and service opportunities, there are a number of ways to have amazing experiences as soon as you get to campus.