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Over 600 first-time freshmen attended the annual Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Camp Row just before the start of the fall semester. Originally designed as a social orientation to college life for incoming freshman students, Camp Row has recently been revamped to replace the First Year Experience (FYE) orientation class. Previously taught throughout the semester, students now complete seminars during Camp Row with their FYE cohort. The cohort meets four more times throughout their first semester to ensure their continuing success in coursework and preparation for their second semester.

For Animal Science majors Ashley Peterson and Owen Coon, the new Camp Row format was ideal. “It was really good to get it done before classes start so that we know how everything works,” said Peterson. “I definitely prefer this to going to a class for eight weeks.” “I think that compared to an eight week course, this was a lot smoother,” added Coon. “It was nice to get it all done and see everything we needed up front instead of waiting to cover something later in the semester that you might have needed from the beginning.”

In addition to getting comfortable in a college setting, Peterson and Coon have to adjust to Oklahoma. Both students are from Indiana and are on the Livestock Judging team. “When I came to visit, I knew it was a good fit. It’s kind of a long way, but it is a good opportunity to get out and see different things,” said Peterson. “One of my roommates came from my livestock judging team back home so that’s really nice and I am enjoying it so far.”

“I’m really liking it so far, too. I have a lot of friends who go to Purdue and colleges across the country and I think that NEO has them all beat,” Coon added. “It’s just a lot more comfortable and NEO has a really nice campus.” For Peterson, Coon, and the other new freshmen, NEO has a fall semester that is packed with sports, student activities, and campus events to keep them engaged with their peers. For more information on Camp Row or the start of the fall semester at NEO, contact Jordan Adams at Jordan.m.adams@neo.edu. (Top Photo: Owen Coon, Dr. Jeff Hale, Ashley Peterson) (Bottom Photo: 2018 Freshman Camp Row Class)