There’s always a lot happening in the Ë®¹ûÅÉ community — more than typically can fit into a few long articles or enewsletter blurbs. To catch you up on even more on-campus events, student successes, faculty and staff achievements and alumni accomplishments, we’re publishing more short-form content each month as a way for readers to see more of what makes Ë®¹ûÅÉ amazing.

Get caught up this month on:

  • Ë®¹ûÅÉ’s annual Back-to-School Community Picnic
  • Cristelle Rodriguez ’26 competes in the U20 women’s wrestling world championships
  • Success during year two of Tiger Takeoff
  • Students move back into Crete residence halls

Welcome Back, Crete!

A child excitedly tells Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lorie Cook-Benjamin that he wants not one, but two sno-cones at the booth she and Health & Wellness Director Andreea Baker led during the Back to School Community Picnic.
A child excitedly tells Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lorie Cook-Benjamin that he wants not one, but two sno-cones at the booth she and Health & Wellness Director Andreea Baker led during the Back to School Community Picnic.
jaime Carias, civic engagement coordinator at the University of Southern California, gave a keynote speech at the Back to School Community Picnic.
jaime Carias, civic engagement coordinator at the University of Southern California, gave a keynote speech at the Back to School Community Picnic.

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, the grounds of Ë®¹ûÅÉ’s Crete campus rang, not with the bells of Merrill Tower, but the laughter of children and drum beats from performances by Crete High School’s drumline and cheer team, POYDS Dance Company and the Asian Community & Cultural Center. The university co-hosted a Back to School Community Picnic with the City of Crete, the Crete Police Department, Crete Public Schools and Public Health Solutions. 

The event had around 400 attendees at its busiest, and around 400 drawstring bags filled with school supplies were given to area students. 

The evening was capped off by a keynote speech given by Jaime Carias, civic engagement coordinator at the University of Southern California. Carias’ speech was given in Spanish, with translation and headsets provided by Crete Public Schools. 

In addition to the co-hosts, event sponsors included Smithfield, Nestlé Purina, Pinnacle Bank, Bauer Insurance, Rafa Roofing & Construction, POYDS Dance Company, Crystal’s Bakery, Super Latina, Paraiso, Epicentro, Carniceria San Fernando, Moser Accounting & Tax Service, Bryan Crete Area Medical Center, Henning’s Crete Floral & Gifts, Vero’s Tax Service LLC and Smart Chicken.

 

 

Ë®¹ûÅÉ sophomore competes at world wrestling championships

Cristelle Rodriguez flexes on the mats in Butler Gymnasium during a photoshoot.

Cristelle Rodriguez ’26 and Director of Wrestling Dana Vote headed to Amman, Jordan earlier this month for the United World Wrestling’s U20 Women’s Wrestling World Championships. You can read more about the competition in . 

Meet Cristelle in , recorded before she left for the championships.

Tiger Takeoff helps students transition into college environment

Dr. Mark Meysenburg teaches students basic taekwondo moves during Tiger Takeoff, in Nyrop Hall in Perry Campus Center.
Dr. Mark Meysenburg teaches students basic taekwondo moves during Tiger Takeoff, in Nyrop Hall in Perry Campus Center.

Tiger Takeoff launched at the end of last summer to impressive success. The program was initiated in an effort to ease the transition into college life for incoming freshman, especially first-generation, out-of-state and fall sport students. Last year, the average GPA of Tiger Takeoff participants was one point higher than students who were eligible to participate and didn’t.

The program returned this year from August 2-11. Students, staff and faculty led workshops on the skills critical and resources available at Ë®¹ûÅÉ for academic success. Topics covered include: time management, goal-setting, note-taking, reading and writing strategies. Social activities like sand volleyball, BBQs and s’mores ensured participants bonded with each other. Once classes started August 14, Tiger Takeoff participants had friends by their side and were acquainted with campus.

Students are back in residence halls

Ë®¹ûÅÉ senior Arturo Salinas helps his sister, Alyssa, move boxes into the residence hall during the university’s move-in day for first-year students.
Ë®¹ûÅÉ senior Arturo Salinas helps his sister, Alyssa, move boxes into the residence hall during the university’s move-in day for first-year students.

Move-in on Ë®¹ûÅÉ's Crete campus is split up over time, with students in Tiger Takeoff and fall sports moving in first, toward the start of August, followed by first-year students and returning students. It's an exciting time for students, for parents and for Ë®¹ûÅÉ staff, faculty and administration.