Welcome Weekend at California Baptist University is one of the year’s most significant events, serving as the official kickoff to the academic year and an introduction to campus life.
This year, the weekend was marked by excitement, anticipation and nerves, especially for first-year students and their families. As thousands of new and returning students arrived on campus, the CBU community came together to ensure a smooth and memorable transition.
The weekend began with new students moving into their dorms, an emotional milestone for many families as they said their goodbyes. Many parents leaving their children at college for the first time, experienced pride and sadness, knowing their children were beginning an exciting new chapter in their lives.
To help students acclimate, various university offices organized events designed to create friendships, build a sense of community and introduce new students to campus life. One standout event was Clash N Roll, a high-energy night filled with music, games and activities that encouraged students to mingle and form bonds with their peers. The event was a significant hit, providing a fun and casual setting for new friendships to blossom.
The weekend also included activities that helped students familiarize themselves with the campus and its resources. A movie night featuring “How to Train Your Dragon,” a worship session, and lunch with the First Year Experience team were part of the lineup, each designed to ease the transition and reduce the stress of impending academic demands.
Ally Buesink, director of the Events Center, played a crucial role in organizing the weekend. Her dedication to making the weekend memorable for every student was evident as she discussed the challenges and rewards of the event.
“There are a lot of people, and it is a little stressful in that sense just because there are large crowds, and these are all new students, which we welcome with the biggest open, loving arms, CBU is a big family,” Buesink said.
Buesink emphasized the collective effort required to make Welcome Weekend a success, highlighting the teamwork and shared commitment to serving others that drive the event.
“There’s so many people it takes to run an event like this … it’s just the heart of everyone that goes into it … and I think the biggest thing is that we serve the Lord first,” Buesink explained. “If everyone has that as their goal, the students will feel it.”
This focus on community and service is a foundation of the CBU experience, which Buesink believes is crucial to the university’s welcoming atmosphere, this sense of belonging makes CBU unique, a sentiment felt throughout the weekend.
“Every time you come on campus, you’re like, ‘Oh, this feels like home,’” Buesink noted.
Welcome Weekend for freshmen like Solomon Colon, music major, provided a crucial introduction to college life.
“There were a lot of events that gave us the opportunity to get to know the other freshmen, some of the upperclassmen, and just other students on campus,” Colon said.
Colon arrived on campus with a mix of excitement and nervousness, knowing only a few people from his church back home. However, the weekend’s events quickly put him at ease.
“When I first came, I was like, I know a couple of people from Crossroads Christian Church, but I don’t know that many people, and I was kind of nervous.” Colon said. “Clash N Roll, watching ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ having a little time of worship and going to lunch with the FYE all opened the door to find new friends and get comfortable on campus.”
Colon commended the university’s efforts to ensure students felt guided and supported during the transition, reflecting on how the weekend activities helped him navigate his new environment and connect with his peers.
“They did a good job of pointing us to where we can seek guidance,” Colon said.
For Sydney Peters, senior communication sciences and disorders major, who attended Welcome Weekend for the last time, the event was a bittersweet reminder of how far she’s come since her freshman year.
“It’s exciting to see [freshmen] walk around campus, knowing the person I was who walked into campus for the first time is so different; there’s so much growth,” Peters expressed.
Reflecting on the dynamics of the weekend fun with Clash N Roll, Peters explained the tradition of the event and the purpose of the event.
“You go with a group of people, but the nature of the game is that you don’t end up with the people that you started with, so you are meeting new people in that way, and it’s just fun. People look ridiculous; there’s no status that you have to meet, so it breaks down that barrier, too,” Peters said.
Through thoughtful planning, a commitment to serving others and a strong sense of community, CBU welcomed its newest members into the fold, setting the stage for a year filled with growth, learning and lasting memories. It was clear that Welcome Weekend had once again made CBU feel like home for many of the students.
