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The Class of 2012 gathered for the first time on Aug. 30, 2008, Under the Oaks of campus for New Student Convocation, where Â鶹ÊÓƵ leaders encouraged freshmen to make the most of their next four years, both in and out of the classroom.

With cooler temperatures thanks in part to an overcast sky, Â鶹ÊÓƵ welcomed its freshman class on Aug. 29 as hundreds of students moved away from home for the start of their collegiate studies.

Technology upgrades, from video cameras in parking lots to new procedures for using library computers, have enhanced campus security as students return to the university for the start of the fall semester.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Leo M. Lambert welcomed employees to the new academic year on Aug. 25, 2008, with a speech that lauded past accomplishments while encouraging faculty and staff to "think beyond the walls of the campus" as leaders begin work on a new strategic plan for the school.

A full weekend of New Student Orientation activities kicks off Aug. 29, 2008, when residence halls open to incoming freshmen. The schedule for Labor Day weekend includes New Student Convocation, the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Phoenix football home opener against Richmond and a live performance by singer/songwriter Josh Kelley.

President Leo M. Lambert and senior staff members previewed the upcoming academic year on Aug. 14 for university employees who filled Whitley Auditorium for the annual briefing. Senior staff provided a summary of recent work and initiatives planned for the next year.

Jaclyn Marie Tordo, a 2008 graduate of Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a bachelor of arts degree with a major in human services, has received a premiere graduate scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to help fund her studies in law and social work at Washington University in St. Louis.

Family Weekend will be held Sept. 26-28 on Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campus. Parents, grandparents and friends can now register online for the festivities by accessing the Family Weekend Web site.