On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Alumni Relations Office Student Ambassadors Program (STAMP) hosted its annual First Year Fall Day in the Great Hall in Severance Hall. The event provided first years with the opportunity to pick up their Class of 2029 shirts and enjoy “apple cider, donuts and an opportunity to decorate tote bags,” as advertised in the campus announcement.
“[STAMP is] a student ambassador program for the office of Alumni Relations, and it’s a way of connecting students to alums. We have various events throughout the year that build class affinity so then when you graduate and go on after Carleton, you still feel connected to the school at large,” said Genevieve Sterne ’28, one of two Class of 2028 STAMP Ambassadors.
Each class has two STAMP Ambassadors responsible for connecting students to Carleton alumni and the office of Alumni Relations Office on campus.
“It was explained to me that it’s tradition for the sophomores who are student ambassadors to plan First Year Fall Day because they just benefited from it,” said Eliza Farley ’28, Sterne’s fellow Class of 2028 Ambassador. “It’s the first event that our office does to welcome the first years on campus.”
Sterne and Farley led event preparation and delegating tasks to STAMP colleagues to promote the event and order the food and tote bags.
“[First Year Fall Day] was created because it feels like in the fall, freshmen have friends and it’s easy, especially after New Student Week [to] start to form groups. But I think this is a great way to meet new people and also just sit down and do something that’s not homework,” said Sterne. “I also think it’s a great opportunity to get your class shirts, which is something that people use throughout the year because it’s not very efficient for us to just put them in mailboxes.”
At the event, several students commented on their experience.
“I’ve just been having fun. I was a little surprised when they gave us blank tote bags, but I’ve been having a lot of fun decorating mine,” said Evan Abrams ’29. “It’s just a chill time. It’s good to have something relaxing. It’s just fun. It’s definitely better than classes.”
“From the perspective of someone who just came down here and is having a good time, I think this event was a success. Students next year should look forward to it and should show up to it,” Abrams continued while sketching a vintage Carleton Knights logo on his tote bag.
“I’ve had a great time. I had a cup of hot cocoa, got some donuts and I’m decorating my tote bag. It’s really fun, and just a nice fall get-together,” said James Bruinsma ’29. “I really enjoy these smaller, more casual events because then you can meet people without having to be at a club and have that commitment to a club.”
“I helped check people in today. But I also did design my own tote bag. I got my own T-shirt,” said Landin Huang ’29, one of two First Year STAMP Ambassadors. “I feel like it’s great that [freshmen] can have somewhat of a break. I know some people have midterms this week and last week, I think it’s a good way to destress. And I like to get to meet new freshmen, it’s great just knowing their names and just seeing them around campus.”
“We’ve been working on [the event] for pretty much since the beginning of term, so it’s really nice to see it all come together and finally be like, ‘Ah, it’s done!’ And the first years get to actually enjoy it, which was like the goal all along,” Farley said.
