ST. BONAVENTURE (March 29) – Over 500 students and parents enter through every doorway of Bob Lanier Court, the usual home of the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies. More than 40 tables for clubs and academics have been lined up to snag their attention. The admissions staff members take a deep breath. Music plays before an announcer calls each member, one by one, to jog down the center of the court. Spring Into Bonaventure has begun.On the day’s schedule, a welcoming by guest speaker Allison Kropff, classes for students regarding the major of their choice, financial workshops for parents, lunch and a club fair.
Planning as a team goes on throughout the entire year. As the date gets closer, more details can be worked out, said Peggy Masters, assistant admissions director.
Jeffrey White, professor of classical languages and Irish studies, said Spring Into Bonaventure gives students the function to meet faculty and talk about majors the way flipping through a catalog cannot. They can see how professors handle themselves and care about what they’re doing, said White.
Julie Keller, interested in psychology, attended a Theodore Roosevelt history course taught by history professor Karen Robbins. Keller, from Hartville, enjoyed the lecture-based style. She liked that the professor asked questions and expected students to expand on the topics presented, which pushed conversation along. This mentality allowed the classroom to have a conversational and relaxed atmosphere, which she found important, said Keller.
More than one student said that high school and college learning techniques differ.
“It was more intimidating but you got the sense that the teacher[Dennis M. Wilkins] wanted to know what you thought and why you said it,” said Nick Coyne, interested in journalism and mass communication. Coyne, from Yonkers, said he liked the fact that no one becomes “just a number.”
Depew resident Arin Liszka, interested in political science, said she enjoyed the small class sizes.
Carole McNall, journalism and mass communication professor, said the amount of information in one place impressed her. Faithful alumni, like Kropff, willing to come back to tell success stories give hope, said McNall. Students can be reassured about entering into any field of study, said McNall.
“I worked at the television station when I was at Bona’s and what I did there was what I did at my first job,” said guest speaker and 2005 alum Allison Kropff. At Bonaventure, Kropff said, she learned to be more friendly, considerate and comfortable in a social environment through working with SBU-TV and everyday experiences.
“I liked how everyone chilled together and gave each other high-fives. It’s like a family,” said Coyne.
Kind words fell from the lips of prospective students about campus.
It’s like a home away from home where people make you feel welcome, said Keller.
Ashley Morrisey, from Ballston Spa, debated about where she would call home for the next four years. After visiting Bonaventure, both felt comfortable with the choice from the friendly, positive experience, said Morrisey
"Since it’s pretty close to home, we made a good compromise with Bonaventure, rather than Charleston or Miami," said John Morrisey.
Kevin Kriso, a Franciscan friar, knows how to make people like Erin Dempsey welcomed at Mt. Irenaeus, a retreat house in the Allegheny hills, where some friars live. Some methods of icebreaking include: naming favorite things and hobbies, cooking and cleaning together and playing charades, said Kriso.
Dempsey, interested in education, said she attended an overnight at the mountain hosted for prospective students the night before.
“I enjoyed being able to meet future classmates and getting to know the friars and current freshmen at Bonaventure. Along with the mountain itself, it’s one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been,” said Dempsey, from Springville.
Along with Mountain Community Leaders, a club formed around students interested in going to Mt. Irenaeus, dozens of other clubs set up table displays, explaining what they do and how they benefit the Bonaventure community. In addition, many had swag like frisbees,
pens, bags and candy.
“Spring Into Bonaventure is a way to advertise the university that’s not artificial,” said junior Patrick Hosken, an editor of The Laurel, a student-run literary magazine. A student can say he or she talked to someone at the school that had common interests rather than just taking a tour, said Hosken.
“They can really find out what they want to do outside of the classroom, see if the academics match up and see if they fit as a Bonnie,” said Brown.
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