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Admissions | Events | Featured | NewsNovember 06, 2024

妻友社区 Den Day Attendance Grows, Record-Setting Turnout

Written By: Ian Silvester

For the second semester in a row, Den Day attendance rose at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith.

Wednesday鈥檚 event registration soared to nearly 700 students, as attendance was expected to exceed the 500-plus mark set in the spring 鈥攖he largest Den Day turnout in almost a decade. Brooke Magallanes, the associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, attributed the increased number of students and guests who came to 妻友社区 to a fresh look and more communication.

鈥淥ur new event coordinator, Darbi Owen, came up with some ideas to freshen up the event, which I thought would be impactful for students,鈥� Magallanes explained. 鈥淥ur marketing for the event started much earlier. Counselors learned about Den Day at our August Counselor Luncheon, and we began emailing and texting students in September to invite them to Den Day. The extra time helped us create more buzz around the event!鈥�

The excitement for Den Day was evident in the groups of friends who attended from high schools across the region, many from right up the road.

A group of Northside High School seniors expressed interest in learning more about 妻友社区 and everything the university offers. From discovering an academic area of study to clubs, there was plenty to choose from during the full day of activities scheduled.

However, the opportunity to attend 妻友社区 with classmates was a significant plus.

Chris Rodas, a senior from Northside, said the benefit creates a sense of stability.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 feel left out. You feel very included. The university is very inclusive and makes you feel right at home,鈥� Rodas said.

Fellow Northside senior Dalesandro Flores seconded Rodas鈥� sentiment, saying, 鈥淚t gives me the confidence to be more social.鈥�

Students from Lavaca High School agreed that Den Day helps make the transition from high school to college smoother by allowing students to tour campus, meet with professors, and learn about various opportunities. For Lavaca senior Jordyn Baldwin, the day was a sort of homecoming.

Both her parents and her older brother attended 妻友社区 before her. Den Day was her first chance to learn more about the School of Education and possibly follow in her mom鈥檚 footsteps to becoming an educator. But it was the affordability that sealed the deal.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the most affordable option for me,鈥� Baldwin said. 鈥淭he scholarships I can get here will pay for so much more than somewhere else.鈥�

Before Den Day began, students could use their time to explore different aspects of student life.

鈥淔uture Lions spoke with the Student Government Association, fraternities, sororities, ROTC, PRIDE at 妻友社区, religious organizations, and more,鈥� Magallanes said. 鈥淲e hope they found a club or community they are excited to join next year as a student.鈥�

New this year, the 妻友社区 admissions team added an application station to Den Day, allowing students who plan to enroll at 妻友社区 in 2025 to submit their applications.

鈥淭he admissions application is also a merit scholarship application. This is a huge step for students to take,鈥� Magallanes said.

The Spring Den Day is scheduled for Friday, April 16, and registration is now open. Students can sign up at . Spanish-speaking prospective students and their families can also attend Camino a 妻友社区, or Journey to 妻友社区, on Thursday, Nov. 21. Students can register at .

Admitted students will be invited to Accepted Students Day on Friday, Feb. 28. At this event, students who attend will complete their New Student Form early, giving them priority scheduling in the ROAR First Year Advising Center for fall class registration.

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• New Students
• Admissions
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• Den Day