ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y.— Students who are new to the 'Bona' family will begin arriving at St. Bonaventure University Aug. 24 for Welcome Days 2017, a four-day program hosted the weekend before classes begin.

Thursday, Aug. 24, serves as "A Day of Gathering." New students will move into their residence halls during the day and then will officially be inducted into the Bonaventure family at the Candlelight Ceremony Thursday evening. The 9 p.m. program will be held on the steps of Plassmann Hall.

 "My favorite part of Welcome Days was moving in and going to the candlelight program with my roommate," said Charity Hammond, a sophomore sport studies major. "That's when my roommate and I started to get to know each other and when I really felt like I made the right choice for my college career."

On Friday, Aug. 25, students will participate in "A Day of Classes." Presentations and activities will help students prepare for the transition into college and outline opportunities and expectations for the Bonaventure students throughout their academic career.

On Saturday, Aug 26, and Sunday, Aug 27, students will participate in "A Day of Service" and "A Day of Involvement." The freshman class will learn about the university's Franciscan mission and participate in workshops on respecting diversity, preventing sexual violence and responsible alcohol use. They will also attend workshops hosted by clubs and organizations on campus.

"One program that stood out is the alcohol awareness program," said Mary Frac, a senior psychology major. "The presenter is downright blunt about the experiences a college student can encounter and doesn't sugar coat it. He is also hilarious, which makes his message memorable and enjoyable."

Freshmen have been asked to bring a donation of school supplies when they come to campus in order to create school packs for refugee children being served by Saint's Place in Rochester. St. Bonaventure has partnered for many years with Saint's Place, which assists refugees from war-torn countries seeking asylum in the United States.

These legal immigrants arrive in Rochester through the Refugee and Immigration Department of the Catholic Family Center. Last year, new students at St. Bonaventure provided enough donations to stock school supplies at Saint's Place for nine months.

St. Bonaventure's upperclassmen will begin arriving Aug. 27, and Transfer Student Orientation is planned for Aug. 26-27. Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 28.