Culver-Stockton College to welcome new students to campus on Thursday

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College will welcome new students to campus on Thursday, Aug. 22, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their academic journeys. The new student move-in will kick off a weekend of cherished traditions and community engagement.

Once students are settled into their rooms and parents are gathered in the Quad, C-SC will have its time-honored tradition of matriculation that formally inducts new students into the Culver-Stockton family. Students will sign the Culver-Stockton covenant, symbolizing their commitment to the values and responsibilities of the college community.

Students then will participate in the symbolic tossing of a penny into the campus fountain. This act represents their hopes and aspirations as they begin their college careers. Students then meet with their Wildcat Student Leadership groups, enjoy dinner in the dining hall and round out the day with a play fair — various inflatables and games— at Ellison Poulton Stadium.

The weekend’s activities continue Saturday with Everyone Doing More (EDM), a day dedicated to giving back to the Canton community. From 9:30 a.m. to noon, new students, faculty and staff will engage in service work throughout the area, reinforcing the college’s commitment to civic responsibility and community partnership.

Before heading down the hill, EDM kicks off with the first 2024 class picture, taken against the backdrop of the Mississippi River and the historic town of Canton.

This year’s EDM projects are:

• Cleaning up the Canton riverfront and community gardens to preserve their natural beauty
• Assisting with various tasks at local churches
• Supporting the Lewis County Playhouse with organizational and maintenance efforts
• Volunteering at the Canton Food Pantry
• Contributing to projects at City Hall, Central Park and the Canton Public Library

In a press release, Culver-Stockton College President Lauren Schellenberger said, “The matriculation ceremony and Everyone Doing More are cornerstones of the Culver-Stockton experience. They mark the beginning of our students’ academic journey and instill the importance of community, service and the values we uphold as an institution.”

After EDM, participants will enjoy a picnic-style lunch with various outdoor games on the Quad. Everyone will head to Ellison Poulton Stadium that evening to watch the Wildcats’ football scrimmage and participate in social activities.

All returning Wildcats will arrive on campus on Sunday, Aug. 25. Everyone is encouraged to attend the opening chapel service at 11 a.m. in Merilat Chapel within the Performing Arts Center.

“We look forward to seeing a full chapel on Sunday for our first worship service of the semester,” Rev. Mandy Tarpening, campus chaplain, said. “Gathering to share communion and an inspiring message, setting the tone for the year, brings me great joy.”

Additional student activities happening on Sunday include:

• Don’t Just Survive, Thrive! at 2 p.m. for new students.
• Greek 101, where students get introduced to the various Greek opportunities, will take place at 3 p.m.
• Grill on the Hill in the Quad at night.

For more information about Culver-Stockton College, go to culver.edu.