Welcome back, Ospreys! With a new year comes new beginnings, new accomplishments, new friends, and of course, LOTS of new students. As is tradition at Stockton University, the faculty and staff, along with the T.A.L.O.N.S, welcomed all new freshman and transfer students to Spirit Day!

Whether they were recent high school graduates just starting their careers, community college transfers finishing up, or part-time commuters looking for another degree, everyone appeared to be welcomed and pepped up on Spirit Day. The festivities kicked off in the morning with the annual Pep Rally, held in Big Blue. Students received their free Welcome Week T-Shirts from the T.A.L.O.N.S. and sat down to see performances and hear speeches from various Campus Figures and organizations. Talon the Osprey, Stockton’s mascot, also made an appearance.

During the rally, many speakers went onstage to share their stories and experiences at Stockton, including President Joe Bertolino, who experienced his very first Spirit Day with the students. He even started a new tradition known as the “callback.” With the help of a couple of Stockton’s cheerleaders, he started the chant with “We Are”
and everyone finished it with “Ospreys!” All the speakers shared their initial experiences and impressions when they started at Stockton and their journeys to graduation, encouraging everyone to be brave, get out there, and make new friends.

Marques Johnson, the Associate Dean of Students, also made a special appearance, where he encouraged students to get involved in the student community and to always ask staff members and faculty for help in anything, whether they need academic support, mental health support, or even emotional support. To thank the staff for taking their time and effort to prepare the Pep Rally and prepare students for the new year, he encouraged the whole audience to cheer for them.

Tiziana Pierini, a new transfer student from Ocean County College, is starting her junior year in a Health Science major at Stockton. She was initially very nervous about talking to new people but found it easier thanks to the welcome program. She stated, “having this experience in comparison to community college was definitely different. You can feel the energy here… It was exciting, people were very welcoming, and Welcome Week was very interesting, too. I got to do a lot of things here. It was very nice to learn the atmosphere here [at Stockton].”

After the Pep Rally, the students took the traditional Spirit Walk around the newly painted track and touched the G. Larry James touchstone as a good luck charm for their year. At the After Party in the freshman quad, students were offered free food and accessories, games, volleyball, and club tables so they could get to know different clubs and organizations.

Junior student Leilani Moreno, majoring in Biology and minoring in Studio Art and Forensic Science, who was initiated into Chi Upsilon Sigma in the fall of 2022, loved participating in Greek Unity for Spirit Day. “Being so involved, I felt so supported by not only my alumni, but by the entire campus. I wanted to keep this going, to keep the ‘ánimo’ (excitement). I’m really excited for this next semester and all the new things that can come from here,” Moreno said.

The Argo was able to speak with President Joe Bertolino, who said he was very happy to participate in his first Spirit Day with the new students and grateful towards the returning students who helped welcome the new class. “It’s hard not to feel
welcomed. It was a lot of fun, and I’m hoping it sets the tone for the rest of the year; that folks [can] be upbeat, enthusiastic, and proud to be an Osprey,” said Bertolino.

As the day winded down, students were invited to participate in a basketball tournament held in the I-Wing Gym, with some other games like Tug of War included. They also got to visit Lake Fred and go canoeing and kayaking on the water. Both residential and commuter students were able to connect through these events and make memories on their first-ever Spirit Day before classes started.

T.A.L.O.N. Marc Galati enjoyed welcoming the new class and orienting them into college life during Spirit Day and Welcome Weekend, stating, “I really enjoy seeing all the first years coming in at orientation. Obviously, they’re going to be nervous, freaked out a bit, and that’s normal. But it’s rewarding getting to see them gain that confidence, making new connections, seeing them in new friend groups. Seeing them grow as a student and as a person coming in a new environment— it’s really rewarding seeing that because, as a T.A.L.O.N., you get a hand in that. You’re that person that helps them, answering questions. It’s a [great] experience and I get to talk to people!”