There's Still Time to Experience "see blue." Preview Nights
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 26, 2011) – As University of Kentucky staff members travel the state and region for see blue. Preview Nights, they're meeting hundreds of future Wildcats!
When all is said and done, the Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar, along with various departments and colleges across campus, will have sent representatives to set up these special events in a total of 18 communities throughout Kentucky and in five different states.
"We're two-thirds of the way through our "see blue." Preview Nights right now, and we have seen more students than we’ve ever seen this far into the annual Preview Night schedule," said Brian Troyer, director of undergraduate recruitment at UK.
Students attending the community events visit various booths to learn how the university fits in with their goals and interests for the future.
"Preview Nights are very valuable because we take UK to the student by covering all aspects of the enrollment process from visiting campus to applying for admission, financial aid, and scholarships," said Don Witt, vice provost for enrollment management. "We are able to showcase what really sets UK apart – all of the outstanding academic offerings – with over 200 majors! In addition, we are able to promote many areas including Undergraduate Research, Housing, AMSTEMM, the Honors Program, Living and Learning Communities, and Education Abroad just to name a few."
At many of the events, members of the UK Jazz Combo from the UK College of Fine Arts kick off the evening with their music while the Wildcat mascot spreads a little bit of the big blue spirit with students and their families.
Students also learn how to apply for admission, scholarships, and financial aid.
In addition, students have participated in "Financing Your Future" workshops and have listened to presentations from current students, local alumni, and endowed faculty members from UK.
The unique part of this event is that students and their families actually get to talk with faculty, staff, and current students about academic programs, campus activities, and student life.
"We’ve also made an effort to set up personal meetings with top students after each event, " Witt said.
While staff members from across UK spend the evening in each city they visit talking to prospective students, officials from the Office Undergraduate Admissions and University Registrar take time earlier in the day to meet with local high school guidance counselors.
"This year the counselor luncheons and workshops have included speakers from various colleges and programs at UK to explain to counselors the unique opportunities undergraduates can choose from when they arrive on campus," Witt said.
The hope is that these counselors will come away from the meetings ready to tell their students about the opportunities available at UK.
"The guidance counselor connection is very important to us," said Troyer. "This year, we've met with a record number of these guidance counselors in the first 12 cities we've visited."
Here is the remaining schedule for upcoming see blue. Preview Nights:
-Pikeville: 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center, 126 Main St.
-Ashland: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, Paramount Arts Center, 1300 Winchester Ave.
-Naperville, Ill.: 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3, Hotel Arista, 2139 Citygate Ln.
-Indianapolis: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St., Carmel, Ind.
-Atlanta: 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center, 500 Powder Springs St., Marietta, Ga.
-Nashville, Tenn.: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Franklin, Tenn.
All preview nights begin at 7 p.m. local time according to each location's respective time zone. Click here for directions to the preview night locations.
For further questions, visit www.applyuk.com, email Brian.Troyer@uky.edu or call (859) 257-2000.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Jones, (859) 257-2940, amy.jones2@uky.edu
