Durham, N.C. – Incoming freshmen joined current Barton College students as well as alumni and admissions counselors at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on July 7, for an evening of food, fellowship, fireworks, and, of course, baseball.
Bold blue Barton pennants and smiling admissions counselors greeted the students and their guests as they arrived at the gate. Passing out pennants and tickets, the counselors chatted with the incoming and prospective freshmen. An hour before the game started, the gates opened; and the Barton contingent filed into the stadium.
Finding their seats in the right-field bleachers, the group was treated to a free buffet of ballpark goodness. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and mac and cheese filled the table as students, alumni, and counselors filled their plates. Having a meal together provided further opportunities for the group to get to know one another before the start of the game.
This close interaction, this personal touch is a hallmark of the Barton experience; and it’s something over-sized institutions can’t provide.
“You feel like you belong.” That’s how incoming biology major Teiji Kimball of Durham, described Barton. In his college search, Kimball visited Barton College as well as UNC-Charlotte. The personal attention provided by Barton contrasted with what he found to be an impersonal experience at UNC. At Barton, Kimball is not a number. He’s a face, he’s a name. And, now, he’s a Bulldog!
Nichole Jordan of Raleigh, is a new Bulldog, too! Jordan learned about Barton through a campus search program. An incoming freshman studying graphic design, she looks forward to Barton’s art major.
Soon after the meal, the first pitch was thrown. In spite of the Durham Bulls 8-2 loss to their guests, the Norfolk Tides, the evening drew to a spectacular close as fireworks blazed in the night sky.
To all of our incoming freshman who will blaze their own dazzling arcs across the future: Welcome to Barton College, Class of 2012!
END
Questions? Please contact Ken Dozier, web services manager at Barton College, at 252.399.6596 or email kdozier@barton.edu.