.By Irene Sullivan – Cookeville, TN — A Brush Creek native will help lead the Student Orientation Advisement and Registration at Tennessee Tech University this summer as part of the new class of student orientation assistants. Lexie Western, a sophomore exercise science major with a concentration in pre-athletic training, is one of 16 SOAs who will guide students at the two-day SOAR sessions beginning May 25 and running through August 1.
SOAR, created by the Office of New Student and Family Programs, welcomes recent high school graduates who are joining in the fall. SOAs will help newly admitted students become acclimated to the university during the SOAR sessions.
“I always feel so honored and blessed that I get to work with such an amazing group of students each year,” said Courtney Brehm, New Student and Family Programs director. “They are so genuine in wanting to help new students find their place on campus and see them be successful.”
SOAs help new students attain personal, social and academic adjustment to Tech. They assist new students in their connection to the campus community by sharing Tech traditions, introducing new students to other students and answering questions about college life.
Western said she wanted to be a SOA because she wanted to help people get connected with not only Tech’s campus but Cookeville as well. The favorite part of own SOAR experience was getting to meet other new students and meeting students within her major she said. Western chose to come to Tech because of how close Tech is to her hometown.
Western said her favorite thing about Tech is “how many opportunities” she has been given within her first year. Her future goal is to be an athletic trainer for the Dallas Cowboys. Aside from learning effective communication and interpersonal skills, SOAs have opportunities for developing or enhancing professional relationships with Tech administration, faculty, staff and new students.
“I think the biggest compliment to this program is when someone says they want to be an SOA because of the positive impact their SOA had on them throughout their transition to campus, both during and after orientation,” Brehm said. Registration for SOAR at Tech is open now and sessions are filling. Incoming students at Tech are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure their desired SOAR date.
For more information about SOAR, including session dates and registration, visit https://www.tntech.edu/nsfp/soar/index.php.
