By Lindsay Cook
While new freshman took part in New Student Orientation for summer term, 20 excited BYU Experience participants lined outside the Varsity Theatre in the morning summer heat.
Finally reunited with friends, they embraced each other in anticipation of the next two days. They would get a taste of university life and participate in activities offered by BYU Experience.
Participants received wristbands that gave them access to the dance, assembly and other activities that were part of New Student Orientation. They also received a schedule of events exclusively for their BYU Experience.
“It is a great program offered by the Center for Service and Learning,” said Tyler Jackson, program director. “BYU Experience provides opportunities for young adults with special needs to have a lot of experiences they would not get to have otherwise.”
BYU Experience is made possible through volunteers and coordinators, Jackson said. Volunteers are paired with participants throughout the program and are always needed to help make the BYU Experience a memorable one for participants during Summer Term and Fall Semester NSO.
“A lot of participants get excited every summer,” Jackson said. “Even a month or two before BYU Experience begins, they come into the office and ask about it.”
The BYU Experience program had double the participants this year. Jackson said part of the reason for the success is because participants like being with other young adults like themselves. He said the mix of a university environment and lots of fun is especially appealing because most participants normally only get the excitement of college life once a year during the program.
Jamie Taylor, an employee at the Center for Service and Learning, said he tries to go every year and it just gets better each time because he gets to be with his friends and he makes more friends each time he goes.
“I enjoy the dances at the end,” Taylor said. “I like to show people my dance moves.”
The chemistry magic show was the unanimous favorite among the participants, with bowling coming in second.
“I enjoyed the chemistry show they put on for us,” Taylor said. “There was a magic show with all different colors, explosions and experiments with balloons.”
Reed Hahne, a freshman at UVSC, went for his sixth time to BYU Experience, and he said he definitely plans on going again because he likes to meet lots of new friends.
“We had food, went to the Bean Museum, went bowling and danced the whole night,” Hahne said. “I loved it.”
Melanie Peterson, 32, from Spanish Fork, said she loved every part of BYU Experience. “Most of all, I liked the people in charge, Sarah and Tyler. There”s just something about them, they just did such a good job,” she said.
When asked if she planned to attend another BYU Experience, Peterson exclaimed, “Of course!”
The next BYU experience will take place at the beginning of Fall Semester during NSO. Anybody interested in volunteering can call the Center for Service and Learning at (801) 422 – 8686.
