Welcome to Alma College! If you’re reading this, you’re likely an incoming student or the supporter of an incoming student. We’re so happy to welcome you to the Scots family. The next step in your journey starts Aug. 21-25 with Tartan 101 — an onboarding event that emphasizes the most fun and interesting aspects of your new home.

Each day of Tartan 101 is centered around one of the components of the Alma College mission statement: to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully, and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations. With those pillars in mind, we thought it would be helpful to show you four of the biggest highlights you’ll experience at Tartan 101.

But we won’t penalize you for going beyond this list, either! If you’d like to learn more about what you can expect at Tartan 101, visit alma.edu/tartan-101.

Welcoming Convocation

One of the great traditions at Alma College is Welcoming Convocation, which you can think of as the “bookend” to your commencement at the end of your college career. At Welcoming Convocation, the faculty of Alma College will form a “gauntlet” for you to walk through as they cheer you on. This is our way of saying, “We are here for you!” (Parents and supporters are welcome to stay for this unique and interesting event.) A similar gauntlet takes place at commencement, to connect the beginning and ending of your journey as a Scot.

Traditions Dinner

This is one of those occasions in which you really start to feel like you’re a part of the campus community. You’ll have a tasty dinner with members of your incoming class and learn about the things that make Alma College special. As a gift from our generous donors, you’ll also receive a white pine sapling tree, designed to symbolize the growth and development you’ll experience during your time here. Some students manage to keep their pines growing for their entire time in school! (If you are unable to care for your tree, it can be donated to Forest Hill Nature Area.)

Gateway to Gratiot

This is one of the newer traditions at Alma College! At Gateway to Gratiot, students engage in all sorts of volunteer activities that help you feel like you’re a member of the greater Gratiot County community. You might create cards of affirmation for children in foster care, pick up trash on school playgrounds or give a fresh coat of paint to signs at city parks. Whatever you do, you’ll feel like you’re giving back to this wonderful community.

So much fun!

It’s hard to list all of the fun activities that are planned for Tartan 101, but we’ll give it a try: new student move-in, magician Daniel Martin, a scavenger hunt/t-shirt swap, hypnotist David Anthony, comedian LeClerc Andre, glow party … OK, that’s enough for now.

There are so many fun activities planned, and it’s all just a start to your Alma College journey. So, get ready! We’re looking forward to seeing you.

For more information about Tartan 101, contact Associate Director of Student Engagement Laura Riegger at (989) 463-7328 or rieggerle@alma.edu.