Preview days at Union Adventist University: Hosting the Students of Tomorrow

Preview Days 2024, a free UAU hosted campus preview event for high school seniors, took place from October 30 through November 3. This is the first year that Union hosted all of the Mid-America Union academies over one weekend. Typically, they chose to come separately and explore Union but this year, they chose to merge with other schools which better allowed students to make connections with potential future classmates

Union advertised the event by saying, “If you're thinking about attending Union College, come to our campus for a FREE preview event where you can meet life coaches, professors and future classmates all while exploring our park-like campus and great hometown.” They encouraged students to come ready with questions and expect to have loads of fun.

All visitors were welcomed to stay in Union housing and treated to free meals in the cafeteria. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to meet with campus staff to discuss how Student Success supports students and how financial aid can make Union a viable option for any student. Students also got to see the non-academic part of being at Union by going on a tour of the city and a trip to the Haymarket, downtown.

They were also able to attend university events such as UGather on Thursday morning where students heard from David Kabanje and Benji Bollinger about mental health. Furthermore, they received the full Union Sabbath experience starting on Friday night with Family Worship, presented by Dean Santi Fernandez and a special outdoor vespers event entitled ‘Just Music’. On Sabbath morning, students attended Sabbath school at The Well and the College View church service. There was also a Sabbath afternoon OASIS event dedicated to service and a Student Association event in the evening at the Reiner Wellness Center that helped students see what types of experiences they may encounter at Union. 

Quiana Davis, a Preview Days visitor and current senior at Campion Academy said, “A lot of people are really nice and it’s a really friendly and welcoming place. I really like the food and I like the flexibility of the courses.” 

Preview Days is a Union Adventist University community-building tradition that provides an annual opportunity for future students to get a clear image of what life looks like for college students and what their future at Union could be.

by Olivia Sweet