A new school year is underway at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), which celebrated the occasion by hosting its annual Welcome Rallies at both its Westville and Hammond campuses. Featuring well over 100 booths, dozens of organizations, and information about PNW’s wide array of services, the rally gave students a chance to connect with their university and its community in new ways.
“Today is about tradition,” said Salvador Cordova, assistant director for Student Life Programming and Administration at PNW. “It’s about welcoming the students and bringing them on campus, helping them make connections with each other and on-campus resources. It’s just overall trying to make them feel welcome, thus, a welcome rally!”
Originally set to take place on the campuses’ outdoor plazas, the heat pushed festivities inside the Student Union & Library Building at the Hammond Campus, and the James B. Dworkin Student Services & Activities Complex at the Westville Campus. Tables packed each building wall to wall with student organizations, academic units, and campus resources. Plenty of giveaways put t-shirts, snacks, and other goodies into the hands of students, while PNW’s food service teams offered free burgers, hot dogs, and pizza.
“It’s all because of the great team we have here,” Cordova said. “Moving inside, facilities really helped us get as many tables as possible so we could maximize engagement, and dining services helped a lot too. We had to turn on a dime, and they were ready for that which was really awesome.”
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) chapter at PNW manned one of the busiest tables, with the technology it displayed drawing in a crowd. The group focuses on putting theory into practice, competing in different events like hackathons.
“There’s a lot of excitement. People love to see this stuff and technology is on the rise right now,” said Noah Brown, vice president of IEEE’s PNW chapter. “A lot of people are interested, especially when they find out that we’ve made it so simple and easy to join and do the kinds of things we do. I’ve gotten a lot of positive engagement.”
Brown, a senior, admits that when he first came to PNW, he was skeptical of joining a club or other organization. He did not join IEEE until his junior year and hopes that the rally inspires many students to join organizations that pique their interest.
“When I first came here I was alone, I know I rolled my eyes at joining a club thinking that it’d just be more work,” he said. “Running into IEEE has really changed how everything’s gone. I’ve become vice president now. I didn’t imagine anything like that could happen. It’s great, and if I had any advice for someone when they come to PNW it’d be to find a club.”
Set up right next to IEEE was Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., an organization that emphasizes community service and social action. The PNW chapter is currently led by President Daisja Sykes, who first met the organization at the 2021 Welcome Rally. Many of their activities focus on helping women in need, including survivors of domestic violence.
“I feel like getting out in the community and getting to know its people is a good way to network and meet new people,” Sykes said. “It was important for us to be out here to see women who are interested in being a part of our organization – for a semester, or for a lifetime.”
PNW’s calendar of Welcome Week events continues through to August 31, with Pride on the Pitch happening at Dowling Park on August 26 at 12:30 p.m., esports tournaments at both the Hammond and Westville Esports Arenas on August 28, and job fairs on August 30 & 31. To see all the details, visit pnw.edu/student-life.
For more information about Purdue University Northwest, see www.pnw.edu.
