Leadership, volunteerism, adventure: Program offers opportunities for freshmen to make early connections to Rowan--and to each other

Members of the incoming freshman Class of 2015 will get a jump start on developing leadership skills, doing service projects-or taking in a little adventure-during Freshman Connection 2011, which runs August 22-26.

Altogether, 66 freshmen will participate in Freshman Connection, which is held a full week before most new students report to campus. Freshmen can choose between three different tracks-Connect through Volunteerism, Connect Through Adventure, and Connect through Leadership--as they work to build connections with each other...and with Rowan University.

In each track, students will engage in interactive activities and small-group discussions designed to help them learn new concepts--and make new friends. But the program also has other benefits, according to Andrew Tinnin, Director of Orientation and Student Leadership Programs.

"College students who become involved in extracurricular activities get better grades, have stronger interpersonal skills, and are more likely to graduate than students who just attend class," Tinnin says.

"Freshman Connection gives our students the opportunity to participate in experiences and interact with new people as they begin their academic careers. It also helps them connect with current Rowan students who serve as leaders in each track."

Here's a look at each of the Freshman Connection tracks:

Connect Through Leadership

Students will engage in interactive activities and small-group discussions designed to help them learn leadership concepts, make new friends, and create a plan for their involvement at Rowan.

The trip involves three days at Camp Haluwasa, an overnight retreat center in Hammonton, where students will participate in team-building, communication, goal-setting and ethics workshops. They'll also get the chance to master a ropes course.

Students who complete Connect Through Leadership will achieve certification in the "Leadership Rowan" leadership training program.

The following students are participating in Connect through Leadership:

Burlington County: Andrew Gaus and Jack Hagerty, Moorestown; David Gomes, Browns Mills; Brandon Thomas (peer leader), Willingboro.

Camden County: Marissa Wood, Gloucester; Francesca Schiavo (peer leader), Blenheim.

Essex County: Vienna DiNorscio, Nutley.

Gloucester County: Westley Lagunda, Woolwich; Dominic Payne, Thorofare.

Mercer County: Evan Gross, Robbinsville.

Middlesex County: Matthew Reinhardt, Jennifer Fox and Venus Ranieri, Old Bridge.

Monmouth County: Katherine Cesario, Hazlet; Alyssa Mills, Union Beach.

Somerset County: Liana Hansem, Hillsborough.

Ocean County: Jason Magee, Manahawkin; Janet Gleason, Beachwood.

Connect Through Adventure

Students will travel by bus to ACE Adventure Resort in Oak Hill, W. Va., where an array of activities will challenge them.

Activities will include whitewater rafting and zip-lining through the mountains of West Virginia. Students will reside in log cabins and eat together, family style, throughout the trip.

The Connect Through Adventure track was developed by the Office of Student Activities.

The following students are participating in Connect Through Adventure, along with their counties and hometowns:

Camden: Hannah Battiste, Barrington.

Bergen: Heather Koch, Cresskill; Kristen MacMillan, Hillsdale; Luke Nichols-O'Neill, Ridgefield Park; Justin Vollmin, Oakland; Daniel Williams, Mahwah.

Burlington: Marissa Breymeier, Kayla Vogdes and Lauren Ferguson, Mount Laurel; Caitlyn Coupe, Willingboro.

Essex: Brittany Coughlin, Short Hills.

Gloucester: Laura Gedrimas, Franklinville; Alex Pollock, Woodbury.

Hunterdon: Mehrdad Bazazan, Pittstown; James Lewis, Lambertville.

Middlesex: Brendan McLaughlin, East Brunswick; Ashley Payne, Monroe Township; Mark VanZevenbergen, Plainsboro.

Monmouth: Samantha Blake, West Long Branch; Richard Lewis, Farmingdale; Karen Pedersen, Colts Neck; Jared Castellazzo, Freehold.

Morris: Kirsten Blomster, Morristown; Zachary Graham, Randolph; Alex Greco, Hackettstown; Victoria Lonero, Parsippany.

Ocean: Angela Kinsella, Beachwood.

Passaic: Kyle Letsche, Passaic; Kevin Peterson, Wayne.

Salem: Caitlyn Stulpin, Carneys Point.

Somerset: Jennifer Enos and Edward Jahn, Bridgewater; Kelsey Opalack, Raritan; Gina Rizzo, Martinsville; Alex Van Nest, Manville.

Union: James Murdoch, Mountainside.

Out-of-state: Jessica Guglielmo, West Nyack, N.Y.; Craig Livorsi, Staten Island, N.Y.; Lauren Hillis, Naperville, Ill.; Matthew Sertich, Crown Point, Ind.; Andrew Short, Wilmington, Del.

Connect Through Volunteerism

 Presented by the Office of Service-Learning, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, students in this program will stay close to campus as they engage in meaningful volunteer opportunities in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Each activity will be led by upperclassmen and will include discussion and reflection about the service experiences, which is a key component of service learning and volunteerism at Rowan.

Among other activities, students will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Clayton, volunteer at a community party at Cardinal Village Retirement Center in Sewell, serve meals at the Gift of Life Donor Program House in Philadelphia, and work with children in Rowan's Early Childhood Demonstration Center.

The following students are participating in Connect Through Volunteerism, along with their counties and hometowns:

Burlington: Matthew Newman, Maple Shade.

Camden: Connor Bryson and Joe Watson, Cherry Hill.

Gloucester: Jessica Postorivo, Wenonah; Amanda Branda (peer leader), Williamstown.

Mercer: Melva Avila, East Windsor; Jason Vergara, Hamilton.

Morris: Rachel Storch, Florham Park.

Ocean: Kathryn Candela, Little Egg Harbor; Alison Dombrowski and Courtney VanLeuvan (peer leaders), Toms River.

Passaic: Jalina Wayser, Passaic.

Somerset: Katherine Santner, Basking Ridge.

Union: Jayne Dzuback (peer leader), Fanwood.

Out-of-state: Jasmine Bossie, North Potomac, Md.