KU announces 2016 orientation assistants

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas’ Office of First-Year Experience has announced the selection of 20 orientation assistants for the 2016-2017 year.

Orientation assistants are student leaders selected to support incoming students’ transition to KU. OAs guide first-year students, families and guests through their orientation experience, offer their personal experience and support throughout the summer, Hawk Week and students’ first year at KU.

Orientation assistants:

Paola Alor is a sophomore from Lawrence studying journalism and sociology. She is the daughter of Genaro and Margarita Alor and is a graduate of Lawrence High School.

Darcey Altschwager is a junior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, studying journalism. She is the daughter of Don and Diane Altschwager and is a graduate of John F. Kenney High School.

Breanna Bell is a freshman from Lawrence studying business. She is the daughter of Douglas Bell Sr. and Mildred Bell and is a graduate of Lawrence High School.

Ellen Bertels is a junior from Overland Park studying Italian and English. She is the daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Bertels and is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School.

Brooke Buckner is a junior from Overland Park studying community health. She is the daughter of Bill and Nicole Buckner and is a graduate of Maranatha Academy.

Katharine Doerksen is a freshman from Derby studying psychology. She is the daughter of Kevin and Mona Doerksen and is a graduate of Derby High School.

Rachel Heald is a freshman from Topeka studying mechanical engineering. She is the daughter of Tom and Mary Heald and is a graduate of Seaman High School.

Logan Hotz is a freshman from Rose Hill studying mathematics. He is the son of Art and Darcy Hotz and is a graduate of Rose Hill High School.

Sarah Ingham is a sophomore from Overland Park studying French and global and international studies. She is the daughter of Mike and Mary Neuburger and is a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Jeffrey John Javier is a sophomore from Topeka studying nursing. He is the son of Wilfredo and Nancy Javier and is a graduate of Washburn Rural High School.

Justin Kim is a sophomore from Derby studying biological anthropology and visual art with a minor in business. He is the son of Dong and Paula Kim and is a graduate of Derby High School. He is returning to the orientation team for a second year.

Maria Kingfisher is a sophomore from Topeka studying English and journalism. She is the daughter of Cheryl Rios and David Kingfisher and is a graduate of Topeka High School. She is returning to the orientation team for a second year.

Elizabeth Langa is a sophomore from Chesterfield, Missouri, studying secondary education with an emphasis in history and government. She is the daughter of John and Meg Langa and is a graduate of Parkway Central High School.

Hannah Leiker is a junior from Olathe studying chemical engineering. She is the daughter of Curtis and Davina Leiker and is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School.

Chance Maginness is a sophomore from Westmoreland studying political science. He is the son of Rick and Shellee Maginness and is a graduate of Rock Creek High School.

Jarred Morris is a senior from St. Paul, Minnesota, studying journalism with an emphasis in strategic communications and a minor in African-American studies. He is the son of Scott and Sabrina Morris and is a graduate of East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minnesota. He is returning to the orientation team for a second year.

Kenny Nguyen is a freshman from Dodge City studying exercise science. He is the son of Trinh Nguyen and is a graduate of Dodge City High School.

Liam Ormiston is a freshman from Derby studying computer science. He is the son of Farrell Ormiston and Dr. Lorraine Alvarado and is a graduate of Derby High School.

Anna Perrone is a freshman from Oakdale, California, studying journalism and business. She is the daughter of Mark and Monica Perrone and is a graduate of Oakdale High School.

Harneet Sanghera is a freshman from Olathe studying political science and business. She is the daughter of Balvinder Singh Sanghera and Sukhwinder Kaur Sanghera and is a graduate of Olathe Northwest High School.

Students starting at KU in the fall 2016 semester will attend orientation and enroll in classes starting in April for transfer students and June for freshmen. Orientation programs take place throughout the summer months. OAs will serve more than 10,000 students, parents and guests as part of the orientation program.

The Office of First-Year Experience works in partnership with new students to create environments that help them discover, engage and belong at KU. Established in 2012, First-Year Experience houses transition programs, such as Orientation and Hawk Week, as well as academic programs, including KU Common Book, University 101, First-Year Seminars and Learning Communities. These programs contribute to KU’s goal to increase first-year retention to 90 percent and the six-year graduation rate to 70 percent. First-Year Experience provides resources to help both freshmen and transfer students have a successful start at KU and support their degree attainment.