“font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;”>Students

showed great excitement as they gathered in the Aggie Village quad

on Friday for the end of ‘The Best Welcome Week Ever’ on Aug. 26.

The Office of New Student Programs hosted the Welcome Back Festival

in the middle of the Aggie Villages

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Students showed great excitement as they

gathered in the Aggie Village quad on Friday for the end of ‘The

Best Welcome Week Ever’ on Aug. 26. The Office of New Student

Programs hosted the Welcome Back Festival in the middle of the

Aggie Villages on Friday, August 26.

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One of the major parts of the event was

the organization fair. Shauna Y. Irwin, Director of the Student

Leadership Program, spearheaded this portion, which took  about two

months to plan. Forty organizations participated.

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She explains that the purpose of the

organization fair is to, “showcase the organizations that have

aspects that need to be seen… our main purpose is to reintroduce to

some and to introduce to the freshmen what the organizations have

to offer here on campus,” said Irwin.

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“We had a couple of new hometown clubs

such as the Triad Aggies and we also introduced the Aggie Chess

Club which is new to campus,” she continued.

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This year, the fair had a carnival

theme, which included an oxygen bar, airbrush tattoos, and games

for students to enjoy. “The carnival theme went over really well

and we plan on continuing it,” she said.

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The class of 2015 was definitely in

attendance at the fair and eager to get involved on

campus. 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Laci Ollison,

a freshmen undeclared major from

Jacksonville, 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>N.C.

said “[the organization fair] is a fun way to get students out on

campus and it gives freshmen a chance to see all the organizations

that A&T has to 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>offer.”

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The Welcome Back Festival also included

the New Student Talent/Fashion Show. “I love it, I love to sing, I

just have so much Aggie Pride,” said

Keisha 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Vanner,

a  freshman criminal justice major who sang “Jar of Hearts” by

Christina 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Perriand

received crowd approval.

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Another talent that came to the stage

was Brandon Jackson, who performed “How Great is

Our 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>God.” Freshman

interested in A&T’s modeling troupes were able to showcase

their “walk” in front of the campus.

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The women who were in the show created a

quick routine to Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)”.

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Briaunna 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Burwell,

a fashion merchandising and design student from

Hampton, 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Va.,

said “Sunday night I got the call that I made it. This was my first

time doing runway modeling; I love the crowd and

the 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>attention.” After

the model troupes finished, the students ran on stage to

participate in a dance competition sponsored by the Triad Music

Festival.

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They competed to get four tickets to see

Lupe Fiasco, New 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Boyz,

and Miguel. Another highlight was the Greek Unity Step Performance

which included representatives from National Pan-Hellenic Council

and Greek Letter Council fraternities and sororities.

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“Overall it went very well. It was a

good opportunity for all the Greeks to show unity,” said

Michele 

“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>Lewter,

a senior, manufacturing systems major and member of

the Alpha Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,

Incorporated.

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The night’s entertainment ended with an

exhibition performance from the The Blue and Gold Marching

Machine.

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“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”>@ATRegister

• Sejal Chappell,Jenelle McMillon,Jameela Meacham Contributors