Bonding through HYPE Common Experiences

Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, HYPE Common Experiences – one of Heidelberg’s newer traditions – came off on Monday as planned as students kicked off the 21-22 academic year before classes start on Wednesday.  

"We were so excited to be able to offer these HYPE experiences to our students again," said Beth Koop, interim Executive Director of HYPE Career Ready and Placement. "We had a great day despite the rain. First-year students had the opportunity to engage in fun team-building activities, second-years managed to build the Habitat wall quickly and third-year students learned a lot of great etiquette tips."

About 300 first-year students boarded buses in the morning and headed to Camp Glen, just south of Tiffin, to get to know each other, make memories and start their college years with a series of peer team-building activities. They tried their hands at such activities as archery and had a few fun competitions too.

The Blitz Build for Habitat for Humanity gave second-year students a chance to give back to the Tiffin community. Together, they dodged the raindrops and powered through to build the walls for a future Habitat for Humanity home that is being constructed in Tiffin.

Students got decked out in professional dress to participate in the Third Year Common Experience – an etiquette dinner, where they learned about “The Art of the Business Dinner” from Cathy Fallon of the Etiquette Institute of Ohio and networked with ‘Berg alumni and employees in careers related to their majors.

Fourth-year students, who will have their HYPE Common Experience later this year, served as team leaders and mentors for the Common Experiences.

View the Facebook gallery from Monday's events.