Radford University - Beehive Yearbook (Radford, VA)

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Showing freshmen the ropes Quest Assistants: (front row) Reginia Hill, Ada Arnold. Paul Hightower, Marion Mercer. Kim Rice. Pam Keane, Koy Wilson. (Second row) Lori Levy. Missy Hall. Ann Cuynn. Donna Le Few. (Third row) Gail Marshall. Olivia Roberson. Jeff Vinson. Virginia Sowers. Don Mart. (Fourth row) Pattie Ames, Jenny Friend. Shelly Herman, Tony Osborne, Dale Ar dir zone, Bruce McCord. Ann Wazenski. John Gossner. Pegeen Albigand Virginia '. A Sau ers advise freshmen on preparing class schedules. Virginia Sowers Question: What had 48 legs; 24 permanent smiles and dressed in blue? Answer: The 1984 Quest Assistants. Last June a select group of upperclassmen and faculty joined the administration in welcoming the incoming freshman class. Approximately 1,212 students and 1,536 parents attended the orientation program known as Quest. “Quest literally involved almost every office on this campus, which means several hundred people,” said Dave Robertson, associate dean of students and Quest coordinator. “So many people pitch in to do this extra work.” Planning for the 198-4 Quest began six months in advance. Twenty-four upperclassmen and 20 faculty were hired to assist freshmen in scheduling classes and introducing them to the university. The faculty advisors worked primarily with the freshmen in academic advising and class scheduling. The Quest Assistants, identified by their blue t-shirts, assisted with advising, answered questions, gave tours, aquainted the freshmen with each other, performed skits and smiled during each day and one-half Quest session. “I think Quest Assistants were generally people who cared about their school and cared about others,” Robertson said. They began their training and team-building sessions early in the spring before Quest. Robertson said a comaradery developed in a fast and dramatic way between the 24 students. Judging from the number of repeat Quest assistant applications each year, the rewards were great. The rewards of organizing Quest were strong for Robertson, also. “I got a real sense of satisfaction of having done a real hard job.” he said. “I also got the chance to work closely with a motivated and likable group of college students.” Watching Quest assistants grow as people was important to Robertson. “I think they left a little better than they came in,” he said. Quest '84 marked the third year Paul Hightower had worked as a Quest assistant. “I did it three years because it was fun, and it gave me a feeling of satisfaction knowing that I helped incoming freshmen and their parents. Kay Wilson was apprehensive and excited about working as a Quest assistant for the first time last summer. “Quest gave me confidence in my leadership ability. I’d never had that much responsiblity.” She added, “I handled it.” Dr. Pegeen Albig, associate professor of dance, had worked either as an advisor or as a member of the Quest planning committee since its origin in 1979. “1 did it because it’s of inestimable value to new students. she said. Orientation was a crucial aspect of a student’s success at RU, Albig said. “They were less bewildered, and a little more aware of the overall picture.” Quest makes a big contribution to the success of the average freshman, according to Robertson. The dropout rate for those who don’t come to Quest was twice as high. He said Quest orientation was really the responsibility of everyone at the university. “If incoming freshmen are not orientated properly, we stand less chance of them arriving happy and staying happy.” Campus Life 19

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Quest ’84 tiohn Gossner leads a group of incoming freshmen and their parents through the library on a tour of the campus. President Donald Dedmon laughs with Ada Arnold, Kay Wilson, John Gossner, Tony Osborne and Jenny Friend during a luncheon for Quest assistants at his home. 18 Campus Life

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L a b 0 r D a y p a 1 n s Moving in Xrying to build a loft to si2e regulations often requires some extra sawing and drilling outside the room. 20 Campus Life