{"id":219002,"date":"2022-09-02T12:35:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T16:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=219002"},"modified":"2022-09-08T13:44:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T17:44:08","slug":"red-reigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2022\/09\/02\/red-reigns\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Reigns"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Red Hawk Day began, friends and first-year Montclair students Victoria Obaniyi, Maria Stathakopoulos, Nicole Martini and Hajeong Lim were among the first to pose for a group photo taken by a professional photographer in front of the giant bronze Red Hawk statue. They\u2019d already bonded after meeting on campus during student orientation. Three of them are New Jersey natives and commuter students who say they are excited about their first school year at Montclair but perhaps the most enthusiastic was Lim, who hails from South Korea.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here as an exchange student, and I\u2019m very excited to meet many people because here, it is very different from my home country,\u201d she says, adding that she planned to join some clubs during the Student Involvement Fair.<\/p>\n

The four are part of the record-breaking incoming class of 4,065, a diverse group that helped contribute to the largest total enrollment in Montclair\u2019s 114-year history<\/a>. The four friends also were among the students participating in Red Hawk Day, when the University welcomes first-year students with a fun, raucous, VIP-style event featuring deejays, dancing and details about clubs and organizations that students can join. This year\u2019s festivities leveled up with the addition of a carnival filled with rides and games, where students easily won stuffed animals that will undoubtedly find homes in bedrooms \u2013 on campus and off.<\/p>\n

\"Two
Starting Red Hawk Day with a dance party in the Historic Quad.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day kicked off with mingling in the Historic Quad, where students soon formed a circle; at the center, students showed off their dance skills to win a free Student Government Association T-shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting day for all of us,\u201d Student Government Association President Richard Steiner-Otoo told the crowd before introducing President Jonathan Koppell, who welcomed the students.<\/p>\n

\"SGA
Student Government Association President Richard Steiner-Otoo welcomes first-year students to campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAre you excited? I\u2019m excited for you. The entire campus has a totally different life when you guys show up and you’re ready and eager,\u201d Koppell told the crowd. \u201cI can’t tell you how much it pumps our hearts to be surrounded by all of you. This is the beginning of a great adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koppell told students that while they will have fun, there will be some tough days. \u201cI want you to take a minute to be proud of yourselves,\u201d he told students, to their applause.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many of you thought a couple of years ago, I wonder what it’s going to be like to someday go to college?\u201d he said, as students\u2019 hands shot up in the air. \u201cNow you’re here because of what you did. That’s really profound because when you prove to yourself that you can picture something for yourself in the future \u2013 and then through your own hard work \u2013 you can make it happen, that’s like a superpower that you have, and you need to remember that. That’s the key to getting through is believing in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The president urged students to embrace the school\u2019s carpe diem motto and make the most of their time and the resources at Montclair, to prepare themselves to serve a greater good and create the world in which they want to live. \u201cWhile you’re having a good time, keep your eyes on that possibility. And if you do so, you’re going to find this is a magnificent time,\u201d Koppell told them. \u201cSo, congratulations to all of you. I can’t wait to see what you do here at ÌÇÐÄvlog. We are a great university because of you and your fellow students, and we are going to do fantastic things together.\u201d<\/p>\n