By: Dorothy Hazan '16
Four days before the start of their first-year orientation, 50 students from Union’s newest class arrived on campus to participate in the Kenney Center’s Community Experience pre-orientation program.
In small groups of five, the students worked on community service projects at a variety of local sites, including City Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Bethesda House and several others. Each group of volunteers visited four sites throughout Schenectady.
The first years were led by 10 upperclassmen who participated in the Community Experience pre-orientation program in previous years. The alumni included Jarryd O’Connell ’14, Samantha Moyer ’14, Anna Gagnon ’14, Fatima Hosain ’15, MaryKate Farber ’15, Kaila Amirault ’15, Dan Hurwitt ’15, Jessica Malinconico ’16, Lauren Crupnick ’16 and Jacob Persily ’16. Jimmy Hicks '15 volunteered to film the program.
In the evenings, the students toured Schenectady, visiting local restaurants and attractions and learning about the city they will call home for the next four years.