Admissions | Events | Featured | NewsNovember 06, 2024

UAFS Den Day Attendance Grows, Record-Setting Turnout

Written By: Ian Silvester

For the second semester in a row, Den Day attendance rose at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

Wednesday’s event registration soared to nearly 700 students, as attendance was expected to exceed the 500-plus mark set in the spring —the largest Den Day turnout in almost a decade. Brooke Magallanes, the associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, attributed the increased number of students and guests who came to UAFS to a fresh look and more communication.

“Our new event coordinator, Darbi Owen, came up with some ideas to freshen up the event, which I thought would be impactful for students,” Magallanes explained. “Our marketing for the event started much earlier. Counselors learned about Den Day at our August Counselor Luncheon, and we began emailing and texting students in September to invite them to Den Day. The extra time helped us create more buzz around the event!”

The excitement for Den Day was evident in the groups of friends who attended from high schools across the region, many from right up the road.

A group of Northside High School seniors expressed interest in learning more about UAFS and everything the university offers. From discovering an academic area of study to clubs, there was plenty to choose from during the full day of activities scheduled.

However, the opportunity to attend UAFS with classmates was a significant plus.

Chris Rodas, a senior from Northside, said the benefit creates a sense of stability.

“You don’t feel left out. You feel very included. The university is very inclusive and makes you feel right at home,” Rodas said.

Fellow Northside senior Dalesandro Flores seconded Rodas’ sentiment, saying, “It gives me the confidence to be more social.”

Students from Lavaca High School agreed that Den Day helps make the transition from high school to college smoother by allowing students to tour campus, meet with professors, and learn about various opportunities. For Lavaca senior Jordyn Baldwin, the day was a sort of homecoming.

Both her parents and her older brother attended UAFS before her. Den Day was her first chance to learn more about the School of Education and possibly follow in her mom’s footsteps to becoming an educator. But it was the affordability that sealed the deal.

“It’s the most affordable option for me,” Baldwin said. “The scholarships I can get here will pay for so much more than somewhere else.”

Before Den Day began, students could use their time to explore different aspects of student life.

“Future Lions spoke with the Student Government Association, fraternities, sororities, ROTC, PRIDE at UAFS, religious organizations, and more,” Magallanes said. “We hope they found a club or community they are excited to join next year as a student.”

New this year, the UAFS admissions team added an application station to Den Day, allowing students who plan to enroll at UAFS in 2025 to submit their applications.

“The admissions application is also a merit scholarship application. This is a huge step for students to take,” Magallanes said.

The Spring Den Day is scheduled for Friday, April 16, and registration is now open. Students can sign up at https://lions.uafs.edu/register/springdenday25. Spanish-speaking prospective students and their families can also attend Camino a UAFS, or Journey to UAFS, on Thursday, Nov. 21. Students can register at https://lions.uafs.edu/register/camino24.

Admitted students will be invited to Accepted Students Day on Friday, Feb. 28. At this event, students who attend will complete their New Student Form early, giving them priority scheduling in the ROAR First Year Advising Center for fall class registration.

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• Admissions
• New Students
• Enrollment
• Den Day