New Student Orientation

My name is Eric Minus. I am a Computer Science major and Mathematics minor, and I am originally from Detroit, Michigan. Currently, I am the Community Outreach Chair for Feed My Starving Children. Through this role, I contact schools, churches and other organizations in the Bowling Green community with the hope of these organizations being able to both fundraise and donate to our cause, which is to feed malnourished children around the world. I am a Student Leadership Assistant in the C. Raymond Marvin Center for Student Leadership. Through this role, I have the opportunity to collaborate with and impact the students of Bowling Green State University by facilitating topics on how one can enhance their leadership. Lastly, I am a scholar in the Sidney A. Ribeau President’s Leadership Academy. While being in this program since my first year at BGSU, I have learned invaluable things about leadership and how to be a servant leader. Leadership has been an important aspect of my life here and being able to leave my legacy here at BGSU.

For my Falcon Funded Project, I decided to raise money for New Student Orientation (NSO). NSO has impacted me since my first day on campus, starting with my orientation day (SOAR). After experiencing SOAR, I fell in love with BGSU, and it is because of the welcoming atmosphere created by the passionate staff of NSO. NSO has a huge positive impact on the BGSU community. One thing I have learned is that first impressions mean a lot. With that, just because students register for SOAR doesn’t mean they commit to arriving at BGSU in the fall. It is the connections students have with the Orientation Leaders, who are student staff, that are impactful and meaningful. I felt that connection during my SOAR day, and I am fortunate to have worked for NSO as an Orientation Leader and Orientation Team Leader. Through these roles, not only did I learn from my teammates, who were from very diverse backgrounds, and grow in my leadership, but also, I was able to leave a lasting and positive impact on the students I encountered on their SOAR days. NSO continues to surprise me and impact the students of BGSU by fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion.

I picked NSO for my Falcon Funded project because of the positive impact it had on me. It had a big impact on my decision to attend this school and it provided me with so many opportunities to get involved in other ways on campus. While working for NSO, I was able to connect with faculty, staff and the leaders of the University, including President Rodney Rogers. This office provided me with the opportunity to really grow and step out of my comfort zone like being the emcee for the welcome every morning in front of 500 students and families and speaking at convocation in front the entire class of 2022. This office continues to impact me to this day. Without this office, I wouldn’t have built meaningful relationships with some amazing people that will last a lifetime.