First-Year Orientation Committee (FYOC)

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

Leadership applications are available in the fall and will involve interviews. General member applications are available in the spring.    

All general members are expected to:

  • attend a one-hour general meeting
  • complete 3 tasks during orientation, with one of them being an evening commitment (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 – Katalyn Denby ‘26
General Co-Chair (non-senior) – Gaby White ‘27

Orientation Coordinator - Lex Thompson '27, Lillian Peskova '26
                      
Communications Co-Chair – Roger Hart ‘26
Communications Co-Chair (non-senior) – Chace Thompson ‘27

  Group Me – Gibson Ward '27, Reese Nelson ‘28
              What's App – Gibson Ward '27, Reese Nelson ‘28
              FYOC Instagram – Emory Ecleberry '27, Bryn Gonzalez '28
              2029 Instagram – Hannah Bishop '28, Lam Ha Nguyen ‘28
              Facebook – Ali Wills ‘27
              Tik Tok – Maren Barclay '27, Bryn Gonzalez ‘28
              Pinterest – Bryn Gonzalez '28                                                   
              YouTube – Carmen Marley '27
              Virtual Events – Carmen Marley ‘27
              FYE Website – Ali Wills '27                                          

Activities Co-Chair – Paige McBoyle ‘26
Activities Co-Chair (non-senior) – Ishaan Bhadouria '27

                          FY Olympics – Dagny Tombaugh '28, Matthew Sosa ‘28
                          Casino Night – Gabe Castillo '28, Frances Howard ‘28
                          Trivia – Ella Van Wyk ‘27
                          Karaoke – Grace Rustay '27
                          Speed-Friending – John Milas '28, Grace Pumphrey ‘28
                          Game Night – Grace Pumphrey '28, John Milas ‘28
                          Rec Sports – John Clarkson ‘28
                          Tie-Dye – Lex Thompson ‘27
                          Campfire – Edison Dokken ‘28
                          Ice Cream Social – Lex Thompson ‘27
                          Student Panel – Lillian Peskova '26    
                          Outing Club – Ashley Escobar '26, Edison Dokken ‘28    
                          Music Festival – Mary Martha Blackwood '26, Ella Van Wyk ‘27    
                          Sunday after Orientation – Clara Oh ‘27

Tour-Based Events Co-Chair – Channing Shilling ‘26
Tour-Based Events Co-Chair (non-senior) – Hannah Grace Kornberg ‘27
Tour-Based Events Co-Chair (non-senior) – Lily Ha ‘28
                         Tour Guides (50) –
                                

A brief description of key leadership roles is as follows:

General Co-Chair is a two-year position that is a partnership between a rising junior and senior for the upcoming orientation. They are responsible for keeping FYOC committee chairs and general members engaged and organized.  General Co-Chairs meet regularly with the FYE Team 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.

Communications Co-Chair is a two-year position that is a partnership between a rising junior and senior for the upcoming orientation. They are responsible for coordination and oversight of the communications leadership roles listed below. Communications Co-Chairs hold the communications team accountable through meetings and check-ins to ensure the steady flow of content on FYOC's various platforms throughout the year. They work collaboratively with all of FYOC to support the overall effort, helping specific platforms when necessary. Communications works year round in collaboration with several University employees.

Communications Leadership is a team of current first-years, sophomores, and juniors that work together with Communications Co-Chairs to welcome incoming first-years to W&L via FYOC's social media platforms. This is a one-year position. After applying and interviewing, Communications Leadership members will be assigned a platform to manage based on expressed interest. Starting in December, they will create content plans and begin posting on their platform while being supported by Co-Chairs. This role is great for any student interested in gaining leadership experience, creating content for social media, welcoming incoming first-years to W&L, and having a unique role as part of a large team. Below is the list of last year's FYOC-sponsored social media platforms.

The following leadership roles have a primary platform responsibility, but work collaboratively as a team to support the overall effort.

  • FYE Website 
  • You Tube/Videography 
  • Instagram
  • GroupMe
  • Facebook  
  • What's App 
  • Pinterest 
  • Tik Tok 

Activities Co-Chair is a two-year position that is a partnership between a rising junior and senior for the upcoming orientation. They are responsible for coordination and oversight of the activities leadership roles listed below, and the planning and implementation of all FYOC activities during orientation.  Activities Co-Chairs work 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 orientation.

Activities Leadership is a team of current first-years, sophomores, and juniors that work together with Activities Co-Chairs to plan various events for Orientation the coming Fall. This is a one-year position. After applying and interviewing, Activities Leadership members will be assigned an activity to plan based on their expressed interest. With the help of Co-Chairs, they will spend Winter Term planning their event then work with General Members to execute their event in the Fall. This role is great for any student interested in gaining leadership experience, organizing event logistics, connecting with incoming first-years, and having a unique role as part of a large team. Below is the list of last year's Activities Leadership events.

The following leadership roles have a primary platform responsibility, but work collaboratively as a team to support the overall effort.

  • FY Olympics (Saturday) is an event on Wilson Field where FYs compete on teams with their hall mates.
  • Tie-dye (Saturday) Free W&L t-shirts provided on front campus to create the tie-dye design of your choice!
  • Rec Sports is an event on front campus for the entire campus community.
  • Trivia/Speed-Friending/Game Night (Saturday/Sunday) are less formal evening events that are fun and relaxed.
  • FYOC Information Panel (Sunday) Incoming student submitted questions are answered by current students both virtually and in-person.
  • Alumni House Hangout (Monday) Enjoy mocktails, music, and the chance to meet first-years and upperclassmen at the annual Alumni House Hangout.
  • Casino Night (Tuesday) is an event in Early Fielding that is fun and lively.
  • Campfire (Wednesday) is a less formal event at Washington St. Park that is fun and relaxed.

Tour-Based Events Co-Chair is a two-year position that is a partnership between a rising junior and senior for the upcoming orientation. They coordinate with University employees, recruit and train approximately 50 tour guides, set up locations, facilitate the events, and clean up locations after the events.  Perspectives is an event in which FYs tour multiple locations on campus in groups of approximately 25 to learn about resources and opportunities.  Perspectives does most preparation during winter term and is very involved the Monday of orientation. They also coordinate Get Downtown with Main Street Lexington.  Get Downtown is an event in which FYs tour numerous locations in Lexington in groups of approximately 5-10 to learn about the local community.  Get Downtown does most preparation during winter term and is very involved the Tuesday of orientation.

Orientation Coordinator is a one-year position that is a partnership between two current students knowledgeable about FYOC. Both are expected to keep in frequent communication with the General Co-Chairs. Some of their responsibilities include the application and on-boarding of general members, understanding the needs of non-FYOC events, and providing support for accessibility needs during orientation. The work of Orientation Coordinator begins winter term and is significant every day of orientation.