First-Year Orientation Committee (FYOC)

First-Year Orientation Committee (FYOC) is responsible for coordinating and facilitating orientation week (OWeek) and other aspects of the first-year experience (FYE) in conjunction with the Dean for First-Year Experience.  FYOC is composed of two general co-chairs, twelve committee co-chairs, numerous other leadership positions, and over 100 members.

Applications are available in October and leadership interviews occur late fall or early winter, but you may express your interest at any time and we will get you involved.  Anyone willing to fulfill the general member expectations is accepted as a member of FYOC, but the leadership positions require an interview. 

All general members are expected to:

-sign up for at least 3 tasks on a Google doc over the summer (to be completed during OWeek)
-return to campus on Friday, September 1, 2023 (the day before orientation week)
-attend a one-hour meeting the afternoon of Friday, September 1, 2023
-complete the 3 or more tasks they selected on the Google doc (tasks typically last a couple hours and involve set-up, facilitation, or clean-up of events)

Most people joining FYOC will be general members before earning a leadership position, but there are many pathways to leadership positions and students can be in leadership positions even in their first year.  The best way to earn a leadership position is to demonstrate your interest and ability by talking to current leadership to understand their role and being generally helpful and willing to volunteer.  The best leadership interviews are when someone can articulate the responsibilities of the role they are seeking and offers new ideas for possible improvements.

The current leadership of FYOC is as follows:

General Co-Chair – Margaret Thompson '24
General Co-Chair (non-senior) – Ben Bankston '25
             OWeek Coordinator (2) - Kaylin Jury '24, Molly Pennisi '24, Kam Saalfrank '25
                      Music (2) - Michael McLaughlin '23, Laney Rzeppa '24
                      Pre-Orientation Move-In (2) – Kaylin Jury '24, Will Hughes '24
                      Leading Edge Dinner – Alexxis Hatfield '23
                      Move-In (2) – Kaylin Jury '24, Will Hughes '23
                      Academic Fair – Claire Mersol '23
                      Community Discussion – Claire Mersol '23
                      Activities Fair – Alexxis Hatfield '23
                      Ushers & Greeters – Praise Apata '23

Communications Co-Chair – Lily Miggins '24
Communications Co-Chair (non-senior) – Erin Brennan '25

       FYE Website - Hannah Nolton '25
              Group Me (2) - Jorge Gomez '25, Kate Keeley '26
              What's App - Aaron Gonzalez-Sobrino '26
              FYOC Instagram –   Kayla Monaghan '24
              2027 Instagram - Hannah Nolton
              Facebook - Adele Roulston '24
              Snapchat – Lily Greenwald '25
              Tik Tok - Roger Hart '26
              Pinterest – Aoife Braverman '25                                                   
              YouTube/Videography - Mika Gothard '24, Joe Lee '26, Taylor Middleton '26 
              Content Generators/Graphic Design - Alexandra Byler '25, Paige McBoyle '26,
                                                                   Kate Keeley '26
              Virtual Events - Parker Sparks                                               

Activities Co-Chair - Will Hughes
Activities Co-Chair (non-senior) – Yewon Shin '25
                      FY Olympics (2) - Parker Sparks '25, Channing Shilling '26
                      Casino Night - Yvonne Cheng '26
                      Showcase - Yvonne Cheng '26
                      Trivia/Speed-Friending/Game Night - LeAnna Baker '26, Katalyn Denby '26
                      Intramurals - Tilman Gates '26
                      Tie-Dye/Campfire - Cecelia Eklum - 26

Tour-Based Events Co-Chair - Emma Poole '24
Tour-Based Events Co-Chair (non-senior) - Mary Kate Murschell '25
Tour-Based Events Co-Chair (non-senior) - Channing Shilling '26
                      Tour Guides (50) -
                                

A brief description of key leadership roles is as follows:

General Co-Chairs (2) are responsible for keeping FYOC committee chairs and general members engaged and organized.  General Co-Chairs meet regularly with Dean Rodocker and are responsible for coordinating meetings, communicating expectations, and holding peers accountable to ensure tasks are completed well and on time.  General Co-Chairs are working throughout the year and are very involved every day of Orientation Week.

Communications Co-Chairs are responsible for coordination and oversight of the communications leadership roles. Individuals have a primary responsibility, but work collaboratively as a team to support the overall effort.  Communications works year round in collaboration with several University employees to help incoming and new students have a positive first-year experience by helping everyone to feel welcome and be aware of challenges, resources, and opportunities.

  • FYE Website improves the effectiveness of the website by seeking feedback from students, evaluating best practices, proposing changes, and coordinating with others on implementation.
  • You Tube/Videography produces videos to help educate about important topics in a dynamic format.
  • Facebook coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • GroupMe coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • What's App coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • Instagram coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • Pinterest coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • Snapchat coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.
  • Tik Tok coordinates efforts to create content and answer questions as needed.

Activities Co-Chairs are responsible for coordination and oversight of the activities leadership roles.  Individuals have a primary responsibility, but work collaboratively as a team to support the overall effort.  Activities works closely with University employees in Facilities, Dining, and Public Safety.  Activities leaders plan, reserve venues, delegate responsibilities, setup events, facilitate events, and clean up after events.  Activities does most preparation during winter term and is very involved every day of OWeek.

  • FY Olympics (Saturday) is an event on Wilson Field where FYs compete on teams with their hall mates.
  • Casino Night (Sunday) is an event in Elrod Commons that is fun and lively.
  • Trivia/Speed-Friending/Game Night (Monday) are less formal evening events that are fun and relaxed.
  • Intramurals is an event on Cannan Green for the entire campus community.
  • Campfire (Wednesday) is a less formal event at Washington St. Park that is fun and relaxed.

Tour-Based Events Co-Chairs coordinate with University employees, recruit and train tour guides, set up locations, facilitate the event, and clean up locations after the event.  Perspectives is an event in which FYs tour seven locations on campus in groups of approximately 25 to learn about resources and opportunities.  Fourteen tour guides are selected who are knowledgeable, friendly, and can address a group effectively.  Perspectives does most preparation during winter term and is very involved the Monday of OWeek.They also coordinate with Main Street Lexington, recruit and train volunteers, set up locations, facilitate the event, and clean up locations after the event.  Get Downtown is an event in which FYs tour numerous locations in Lexington in groups of approximately 5 to learn about the local community.  Get Downtown does most preparation during winter term and is very involved the Tuesday of OWeek.