Featured | NewsMarch 04, 2021

Heppner to Lead Cub Camp 2021

Incoming first-year students at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith will be welcomed to their UAFS experience by a new slate of 2021 Cub Camp directors, led by a familiar face – Reagan Heppner, who will serve her second term as a director this year with a staff of three assistant directors and 14 chairs.  

 

Cub Camp, the traditional welcome weekend experience for incoming UAFS students will take place Aug. 18-21, connecting new Lions to the campus, faculty, fellow students, and university traditions. Entirely led by UAFS students, new Lions can create connections that will last far beyond their years at UAFS and ease their transition from high school to college. Cub Camp Registration is open now through August 6.

 

Reagan Heppner, cub camp director, is a junior vocal music major from Elkins. Her leadership efforts will be reinforced by Hannah Warrington, a junior biology major from Paris, as assistant director of campus relations; Keelee Davidson, a junior elementary education major from Siloam Springs, as assistant director of logistics; and Cassie Bell, a mechanical engineering major from Hackett, as assistant director of student relations.

 

The four student leaders will be assisted by 14 Cub Camp chairs: Bao Ha of Binh Duong Province, Vietnam; Payton King of Cabot; Berkley Cooper, Keanan Glover, Dyllan Newell, Mark Shaver, Brooke Stubblefield, and Taylor Stubblefield, all of Fort Smith; Kaitlyn Reynolds of Gravette; Mary Richey of Greenwood; Daniel Myers of Pasadena, California; Braeli Allen and Terra Allen of Siloam Springs; and Leslie Rodriguez of West Fork.

 

"Cub Camp is extremely important to incoming freshmen because it introduces them to campus and gives them the opportunity to form some of the most genuine friendships you'll ever be able to make in college,” Heppner said. “Cub Camp is one of the most amazing opportunities to explore campus, meet new people and have an absolute blast while doing it. Cub Camp is the first huge step to becoming a proud Lion!”

 

Throughout the three days of Cub Camp, incoming freshmen are introduced to the campus and each other through a series of small group meetings, information sessions, ice breaker activities, entertainment events and friendly competitions. Cub Camp participants who will be living on campus are also eligible for early move-in, providing them extra time to become better acquainted with their new home. 

 

All Cub Camp staff members are under the advisement of Dr. Dave Stevens, dean of students, and Stephanie London, director of Student Activities.

 

“Many college freshmen, whether they’ll admit it or not, experience some fear and/or anxiety about starting college,” said Dr. Stevens. “Let’s face it: Transitions can be stressful and challenging. For some students, they are leaving behind everything they’ve ever known to come to UAFS; for others, it is their first time on their own without mom and dad; others are just concerned about how they’ll fit in and how they’ll find their classes. Cub Camp is designed to help students create connection points with faculty, staff, and their fellow students, and our goal is to make freshmen feel more like sophomores on day one.”

 

Early bird registration is ongoing through July 31 with a final deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6. For more information go to campuslife.uafs.edu/cub-camp or email cubcamp@uafs.edu.