SophoMORE Picnic kicks off new college experience

All photos by Senior Reporter Shay Maclean.

As students arrived back to school this semester, the sophomore class received a special invitation to join a new experience at Lee University. This experience aims to support students in engaging in their community.

The question presented to the sophomore class was simply: “Are you ready for MORE?” followed by an invitation to a welcome back picnic for the entire class.

The SophoMORE Experience is new to Lee and the result of a grant applied for in 2018. Kristin Pope, director of the Center for Calling and Career, is behind this new initiative focused on sophomores.

“I enjoy helping students figure out their path and how their calling and purpose fit with where they’re going,” Pope said.

This sophomore class entered their college experience amid COVID-19 protocols, making their experience unlike any other. Pope explained the university applied for the grant pre-pandemic and the timing worked out for this class to

be the first to get this kind of one-on-one attention after their unique freshman experience. Pope said interest in sophomores began after realizing just how focused Lee’s freshman experience was.

“Sometimes [students] come back sophomore year, and they haven’t quite settled into their department yet … we are hoping to offer a sort of landing-place to grapple with that a little bit. We want to be a program to welcome students back and create some intentional space to be reflective and think about vocation and purpose and career and major and how that fits with who you are,” Pope said.

Kristin Pope welcoming students.

Before the picnic, students were eager to encounter their peers outside of classes. Annie Stockton, biology and Spanish double major, and Jessica Uhls, business major, discussed their excitement for the picnic.

“There’s not many opportunities for your whole class to get together, and now we have a couple of them. I think that’s really cool and exciting,” said Uhls.

Stockton, an attendee of Summer Honors, said despite entering her freshman year with friendships, it was harder to create more community because of safety protocols.

“Last year, there wasn’t very much going on,” said Stockton. When she arrived at the picnic, Stockton realized this was her first big event on campus since arriving at Lee.

Outside and unmasked, students were able to enjoy the new season of life while being celebrated and encouraged by their guides.

This series of events will also allow students to meet with their guide — a hand-selected faculty member who will partner with a group of students at each event throughout the year. At the picnic, each guide sat with their sophomores, encouraging conversation with questions like, “what brings meaning to your life right now?” and, “what is getting you excited?”

Sarah Mooneyham, sophomore journalism major, said this small group time was her favorite part of the event.

Sophomore Sarah Mooneyham at the SophoMORE Picnic.

“It was so comforting to know that I am not the only person grappling with the change the sophomore college experience has brought me,” said Mooneyham. “This program equips questioning and often complacent sophomores with resources to get the most out of their Lee University education, and to be prepared for what life at Lee, and beyond, looks like for them.”

Another sophomore at the event, international business major Oliver Lewis-Perkins, enjoyed the opportunity to meet other students in his class.

“Being on the golf team, we had to try to stay in a ‘bubble’ for most of the year, so it was quite hard to take part in many of the events that were open to everyone on campus,” said Lewis-Perkins. “It was definitely harder to create community because of COVID. I became very close to the people on my team but felt that I didn’t get to know as many people as I should’ve.”

The sophomores at the picnic were split up into groups with similar majors. This gave guides and students an opportunity to get into a deeper conversation about what they envision for their future, or to brainstorm on what they could possibly become passionate about.

This sophomore class has opportunities to connect at events throughout the year, creating a space for discovery in identity, fellowship and their future. Though the previous year prohibited many anticipated experiences, Pope hopes to provide more purposeful ways for sophomore students to feel acknowledged and at home.