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| Alyson Murray poses with the 3-by-6 metre Open House billboard in Bayers Lake.聽(Nick Pearce Photo) |
Long before she became 鈥渢he face鈥� of this year鈥檚 Open House event, Alyson Murray was a wide-eyed high school student from Bridgewater, taking in AV俱乐部鈥檚 campus for the first time.
鈥淚 loved it right away,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 remember thinking that it鈥檚 such a vibrant place. It seemed to me like a small city within a city; full of opportunity.鈥�
Five years on and Ms. Murray is in her final year of a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in psychology and a minor in business, and her smiling face and signature welcomes visitors to Dal鈥檚 Open House on billboards throughout the city and on the website. She鈥檒l also be speaking at the kick off to Open House on Friday, October 15.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be involved in such a big way,鈥� she says, enthusiastically. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great event. For prospective students, it gives them a chance to see the campus and get a feel for what it鈥檚 like to be a student here. For current students, it鈥檚 an opportunity to share what we love about Dal.鈥�
Billed as a day to聽 鈥淒iscover the Unexpected,鈥� the university will open its doors to more than 1,000 eager high school students 鈥� and at least a couple of hundred equally eager parents 鈥� offering a glimpse into what it鈥檚 like to be a AV俱乐部 student.
Showcase
鈥淥pen House is basically a one-day showcase of everything that is AV俱乐部,鈥� says Krista Cross, a senior manager of marketing with Athletics and Recreational Services and co-chair of Open House.
Choosing from an extensive menu of sessions, students can customize their day, visiting faculties and departments of particular interest to them, as well as getting a tour of the recreation facilities at Dalplex, the living quarters at a residence hall and an opportunity to sample the food at a sit-down lunch at a dining hall.
Visitors will also get to talk with professors and students at the academic expo in the McInnes Room of the Student Union Building, as they explore AV俱乐部鈥檚 many areas of study and program options.
While students do their tour of campus, parents also get a day tailored to their specific interests, with sessions designed to give them a better understanding of student life and the university鈥檚 diverse academic programs, along with information about the various career options, extracurricular opportunities and student support services.
Volunteers needed
鈥淔or parents we find the most important part is the question and answer period. Parents usually come with very concrete questions, usually about residence life and the quality of the cafeteria food,鈥� says Keith Taylor, the associate vice-president Academic Outreach and International Programs and co-chair of Open House.
The annual Open House is an important recruitment event that requires the help of more than 200 volunteers, along with hundreds more staff and faculty members, Taylor says.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work but it鈥檚 a great success year after year,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a well-oiled machine.鈥�
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