Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader speaks at the 2014 Convocation.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, Missouri University of Science and Technology will welcome over 1,500 freshmen to Rolla to begin their academic careers during Opening Week.

Beginning with move-in on Saturday, students will be busy with activities geared to help them transition to university life. A variety of academic workshops will be offered throughout the week, including problem-solving, lab safety, communications and leadership.

The workshops give freshmen practical classroom and laboratory experience before the semester officially starts on Monday, Aug. 24. Students can eat lunch with faculty members, which gives both parties an opportunity to discuss classroom expectations in a casual atmosphere. Opening Week will also provide plenty of opportunities for students to make new friends during picnics, barbecues and recreation activities.

Convocation, Missouri S&T’s official welcome to the students, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, in the Student Recreation Center in the Gale Bullman Building. The event will include remarks by Rolla Mayor Louis J. Magdits IV and Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader and a presentation of Missouri S&T’s values.

A favorite activity during Opening Week is the Project X team design competition. Students are divided into 15- to 18-member teams led by student mentors. The teams spend the week designing and building unusual remote-controlled vehicles for the competition.

On Friday, Aug. 21, members of the campus cheer on their favorite teams as vehicles navigate obstacle courses throughout campus during the competition, which runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Races begin at the Puck in the middle of campus and end at the Havener Center.

“Project X is a great way for students to get to know each other and learn their way around campus,” says Patty Frisbee, director of student support services at Missouri S&T. “Students have a common learning experience outside the classroom that shows their creativity while involving all academic disciplines.”

The vehicles will be auctioned off during an awards ceremony at 9:30 p.m. Friday evening in the Havener Center atrium. Proceeds will go to the Spirit of Change movement at Missouri S&T. The movement involves using the funds to help make a difference in students’ lives. Some past acts of the Spirit of Change include parking meters paid for a day, juice and homemade cupcakes after a math exam, free cups of coffee served at the Burns & McDonnell Student Success Center, or a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day. In the past, the money helped students whose apartment burned and helped a student who was in a car accident.

A complete schedule of Opening Week activities is available online at pro.mst.edu.