The University of Idaho welcomed visitors last weekend, but encouraged them to stay much longer — about four years longer, to be exact.
Envision Idaho is UI’s open house event where high school seniors learn about what it is like to live and learn at the university. Saturday, many prospective Vandals and their families came to campus and participated in all the tours and educational sessions the day had to offer.
Cezar Mesquita, director of admissions, helped orchestrate the event and spoke at the day’s welcoming, just before prospective students toured the campus. He encouraged students to ask critical questions during the day that would help them decide if UI is right for them.
“Ask those important questions for you and your family as to why and how can the University of Idaho help you fulfill those accomplishments and those expectations and dreams,” Mesquita said. “Ultimately, our job here is to make sure you feel welcomed and are informed about this transition.”
Mesquita said visitors would often hear the theme of the community discussed during their stay.
“We don’t speak of ourselves as a Vandal nation. We speak of ourselves as a Vandal family,” Mesquita said. “Those experiences you will have are forged by the relationships you make with people.”
Provost and Executive Vice President John Wiencek and ASUI President Cruz Botello also spoke and re-emphasized the importance of the Vandal family.
UI President Chuck Staben was unable to attend the event, but Wiencek said Staben would tell students that no matter where they choose to pursue a college education, they should make the right choice for themselves.
The most in-depth event of the day was the academic experience, where visitors could choose from one of 14 sessions to attend. Each session gave information about options within a major or showcased current work going on in research or performance.
Rachel Arnzen is a high school senior and has been coming to Idaho games since she was young. Both of her parents are UI alumni, and Arnzen said she has multiple cousins attending the school right now. She said Envision Idaho helped her see what UI would be like as a student, instead of as an outsider.
“I love it. I love it here. There’s no better place than Moscow, honestly, in my opinion,” Arnzen said.
Ryley Martin is another high school senior who attended Envision Idaho. He said he received an email telling him he was accepted to UI, along with other Idaho institutions. He said he was thinking about attending Boise State University, but wanted to tour UI. Ryley’s father, Kelly Martin, said Ryley will be his first and only child to attend college.
“He better do good,” Kelly said. “Got to be keeping that GPA up.”
Shauna Church is a UI alumna — she was also at Envision Idaho.
“My oldest daughter is a senior and her top choice, and really only choice, is to come here to the U of I,” Church said. “My husband and I met here and we went to school here. All our family went to school here, so we’re a big alumni Vandal family.”
Church said she loved the campus, and attends a few Idaho football games every year. She said both of her daughters knew the Idaho fight song from a young age. She said her daughter was excited to look inside the sororities and may consider the Honors Program. She will be Church’s first child to go to college as well.
“I’m excited for her to be up here and experience what my husband and I experienced when we were here,” Church said.
Jack Olson
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