Ohio State University welcomes students for autumn semester

Students will be moving into residence halls over the next several days ahead of the start of the new school year on Aug. 22. Approximately 14,000 students will live in Columbus campus residence halls.

Here are the top 10 events that media can cover as the university welcomes students to campus and to Columbus:

Global Buckeye Celebration, Friday, Aug. 18, 5-7 p.m., RPAC, Tom W. Davis Gym. The Global Buckeye Celebration marks the arrival of nearly 2,000 new international students to Ohio State. New and returning international and American students are invited to attend. The celebration includes inflatable games, international dancing, Zumba Fitness, food and Ohio State trivia competitions.

Residence Hall Move-in, Saturday, Aug. 19, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ohio State’s residence halls open for autumn semester with Move-in. They will be assisted by some 2,000 Official Welcome Leaders (OWLs, who move in on Aug. 17) who help families unload cars and bring possessions to assigned rooms. Move-in day is highly orchestrated to avoid confusion and congestion due to the high number of vehicles and people on campus. Motorists are urged to avoid the campus area during move-ins. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu.

Student Involvement Fair, Sunday, Aug. 20, 4 to 7 p.m., the Oval. Ohio State has nearly 1,400 student organizations. During Welcome Week each year, representatives of many of them, as well as campus departments and community agencies, set up a booth or display on the Oval so students can become involved in areas that meet their needs and interests. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu. SEE: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=2523.

President’s Convocation, Monday, Aug. 21, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., Schottenstein Center. Convocation is the official welcome event at Ohio State for first-year students. New students hear from President Drake, faculty, administrators and special guests, and are introduced to some time-honored university traditions such as “Carmen Ohio.” Convocation is the first of many memorable moments for students at Ohio State and it is the only time prior to graduation that the class of 2020 is gathered in one location. CONTACT: Benjamin Johnson, johnson.7149@osu.edu. SEE: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=2912.

First Year Student Columbus Welcome Event, Monday, Aug. 21 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Schottenstein Center. Immediately following Convocation, new Ohio State students will be introduced to many of the great sites, attractions and opportunities that Columbus has to offer at the Columbus Welcome Event. The relationship between the university and the city has never been stronger and new students will learn how Columbus is a vibrant and exciting place to live. The high-energy multimedia program will focus on explaining how the university makes it easy for students to access all the city has to offer. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu

Buck-i-Frenzy, Monday, Aug. 21, 1 to 5 p.m. in and around RPAC. One of the most popular Welcome Week events is Buck-i-Frenzy, where select local and national companies offer samples of the latest products, services, fashions, sounds, technology and tastes. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu.

First Day of Classes, Tuesday, Aug. 22. Volunteers will staff campus locator booths across campus to help students find their way to classes. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu. SEE: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=2889.

Buckeye Kick Off, Thursday, Aug. 24, 6 to 8 p.m., Ohio Stadium. Students learn about Buckeye spirit in a program that features TBDBITL, celebrities, a Block O card stunt and more. South Stands open at 6 p.m. for a tailgate, free food and fan fest. Stadium gates open at 6:30 and the program begins at 7 p.m. Students will be invited to stay until the end to come onto the field and pose for a historic group photo on the football field. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu. SEE: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=2291

Community Commitment, Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over 1,000 Buckeyes are expected to volunteer to serve their new community in the annual Community Commitment, one of the largest single-day community service events held on a college campus. After meeting in the Ohio Union, students travel to one of many agencies across Columbus, where they serve alongside one another. Past projects have included working at COSI, local food pantries, the Columbus Zoo, and at a variety of other nonprofit agencies. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Student Life, isaacs.84@osu.edu.