President Kyle greets Quest assistants

President Penelope W. Kyle hosted a luncheon Tuesday for Radford University's 2013 Quest assistants, thanking them for their service and congratulating them on their leadership role in the annual new-student orientation program.

"It is such an honor to be chosen as a Quest assistant," the president told the three dozen students. "People put this experience on their resumes. It demonstrates your leadership ability and your experience working with large groups of people. It will help you in whatever you do after you leave Radford, and your efforts during the Quest sessions certainly will add value to Radford University."

2013 Quest assistants

President Kyle, front and center, with RU's 2013 Quest assistants

Quest assistants are RU student leaders chosen to join a team of faculty, staff and administrators who host and help new students and their families, serving as mentors and role models to assist with academic advising and registration. They begin their training during spring semester and continue it for two weeks before the first Quest session in June.

Kyle asked the 34 students to introduce themselves and say where they are from, noting that they represent towns and high schools across Virginia and that three of them are from out of state. "You have a big role to play," she told the group, "and I know you are up for it. We are counting on you."

The president reminded the students of the positive role they will play in introducing RU to the new freshmen and their parents. She challenged them to recall their own freshman orientation questions and anxieties, and to apply those lessons to their efforts to welcome RU's newest class.

Madalyn Dunn of Montpelier, a rising junior, said she applied to be a Quest assistant because her own orientation experience was so positive. "I was one of those really nervous freshmen," she said. Her Quest assistant "made me feel comfortable by telling us he had been nervous too." She said she hopes to gain leadership and team-building experience.

For rising junior Chris Henry of Middlesex, being a Quest assistant is an opportunity to bring people together and help them socialize and adapt. "It's good for me to have this experience working with a group," he said, "and help them make this transition."

Quest sessions give new students an opportunity to register for classes and to become familiar with the university's culture, community and resources. This year's series of two-day Quest programs for students and their families will begin Tuesday, June 11.

Quest Express is an abbreviated one-day version of the program. Daylong sessions also are offered for transfer students.

Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.

Jun 5, 2013
Deanne Estrada
(540) 831-6713
djestrada@radford.edu