By Linnea Doughman
Getting Started Weekend is an exciting set of days when Cedarville welcomes thousands of students to campus. For some, it is their first time moving onto campus as a student. For others, it is their third or fourth time returning to Cedarville. This year, the weekend of festivities took place from August 14 through August 16, initiating the start of Cedarville’s 2026-2027 school year.
Besides the Welcome Home Party that greets every student, Getting Started Weekend is packed with all sorts of activities for students to connect with one another. Jacket Fest, Jacket Jaunt, Jackets for Life and a worship night led by the Student Government Association (SGA) are just a few of the events that occur over the course of 72 hours.
Kloe Hopman, an incoming freshman Biblical Studies major, felt immediately welcomed onto campus by the “WOW-Team” that greets students through loud cheering and lots of energy when they enter the campus entrance at University Boulevard to Varsity Drive and beyond.
“I felt extremely welcomed by everybody when I entered campus,” Hopman said. “All the excitement made me want to become part of the [Cedarville] family!”
Hopman’s favorite event of the weekend was the SGA worship night. As an incoming freshman student, joining in worship with thousands of other students made her weekend far more enjoyable.
“All the voices that sang made me wonder what heaven will be like.” Hopman said. “I left [the SGA worship event] full of excitement.”
Junior Biblical Studies major Kasen Keener shared his perspective as one of the Resident Assistants (RA) who welcomed all incoming students onto campus this school year.
“It was cool to be on the other side of helping people feel welcomed. I loved seeing the amount of service in people’s hearts towards [everyone] moving in and towards the freshman students” Keener said.
For Keener, service is a central theme of Getting Started Weekend. He recognizes the value in giving up some of his time to help new students feel comfortable in their new home.
“My favorite part [of Getting Started Weekend] was all the small interactions I had with all the new [students]. Part of making [a new student] feel welcomed is just talking to them.”
Sophomore Nursing major Audrey Entner was delighted by the reconnections that Getting Started Weekend allows. She happily embraces the start of the school year and all the familiar faces on campus.
“[After arriving on campus,] I was reminded of all the friendships I have here,” Entner said. “It is so good to make that reconnection with people and have the sweet friendships come back again.”
Getting Started Weekend provides amazing opportunities for Cedarville students to meet new people, make new friends, act with a servant’s heart and reconnect with friends from previous school years.
Linnea Doughman is a Junior English major with a concentration in Editing and Publishing. In her spare time she loves writing creatively, going on strenuous hikes, capturing special moments through photography and thrifting with friends.
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