Orientation and Convocation Activities Open New Academic Year

The University of Montana Western held several special events for new student Orientation and Convocation, to celebrate the official beginning of the 2018-19 academic year.

Move in Day Check In
Move-in Day at the University of Montana Western.

The activities began on August 23, 2018, with the Montana Western Moving Company event. Orientation is a fun and informative experience that is mandatory for all first-year and transfer students.

Move in Day Lanyards
Upon check-in, each new student received a color-coded lanyard that corresponds to their Orientation group.

The community was invited along with faculty and staff to help new students and their families move into the residence halls on the Montana Western campus.

Blackfeet Drummers at Convocation
The UMW Convocation featured guest members of the Blackfeet Nation during the proceedings of the ceremony.
Blackfeet Nation Guests
From left to right, Convocation guests Debbie Whitegrass Bull Shoe, Miss Kyi-Yo Shawntyanna Bull Shoe, and Dustin White Grass.

At this year’s Convocation, the official start of the school year ceremony held on August 24, members of the Blackfeet nation shared songs and drumming with the audience.

Darryl Bellamy Jr
Students participated in an impactful presentation by inspirational speaker, Darryl Bellamy Jr.

An inspirational keynote address was given by speaker Darryl Bellamy Jr., who encouraged character development and personal growth while instilling the knowledge and techniques necessary to identify and overcome fear.

Scavenger Hunt
New students participated in a scavenger hunt at several local businesses, allowing them to learn about the community.
Football Scrimmage
A football scrimmage was held at Vigilante Field with a tailgate dinner.

A scavenger hunt at local businesses and football scrimmage, along with several other activities, were also held that provided many opportunities for new students to explore the community of Dillon.

On August 25, this year’s new students, with resident assistants, faculty and staff, hiked to the hillside “M.”

Experience One Shirts
Students look out over the city of Dillon, Mont. after hiking up the trail to the “M.”
Hike to the M
The hike to the “M” provides students the opportunity to get to know each other while learning about the trail system in the Dillon, Mont. area.

The start of a new block kicks off another year of possibilities and opportunities for students at Montana Western, the only public university offering a block scheduling program in which students take one course at a time. This innovative approach is called Experience One (X1). With X1, students concentrate on one course for 18 days, before moving on to the next.

The fields of academic study at Montana Western include Biology, Business and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Education, English, Equine Studies, Health and Human Performance, Fine Arts, Mathematics, and History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences.

Students at the University of Montana Western enjoy a tight-knit community atmosphere and small class sizes where they work closely with peers and professors alike. Montana Western focuses on serving students, achieving academic excellence, and promoting experiential education. The 20-acre campus is an excellent choice for students to take advantage of the immersive learning opportunities offered by the Experience One program, where they can build on critical and creative thinking skills to prepare for real-world job and graduate school opportunities.

For more information about Experience One and the University of Montana Western, or to schedule a visit, call 877-683-7331 or visit www.umwestern.edu.

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