On Friday, the Nontraditional Student Center sponsored an activity where nontraditional students of all ages and backgrounds gathered for a movie, pizza and ice cream. The activity included a showing of the movie Inception, various types of Papa John’s pizza, as well as ice cream sundaes with all the toppings.
Students in attendance came with friends or significant others, as well as by themselves in order to enjoy a night with their friends. Christa Boyd, a student who has been to past activities, said that she enjoyed the movie and pizza.
“I enjoy being here and seeing another side of my friends, not just as students, but their family life also. It’s a nice balance,” Boyd said.
Boyd said she frequents the center at least four times a week in order to study, socialize, relax and enjoy coffee in the presence of others.
“Just having coffee and great conversation, I love it,” she said. “When you come here it feels like family.”
A peer mentor from the center, Misty Hearnesberger, echoed Boyd’s sentiments.
“This place is a home away from home. If you don’t know the answer, you can come here to find it, and if we don’t know it, we will help you find it,” she said.
The peer mentors in the center said they try to plan activities that are appealing to the large amount of nontraditional students attending Weber State University. Office aide and peer mentor Molly Hertig was the coordinator of Friday’s event. She said the activity was geared toward nontraditional students in order to get them out and involved. The goal of the night was summed up in one sentence:
“They will reconnect with friends that they already have, and they will get a night of relaxation. It is just a fun time to get out, socialize and really try to not stress about everyday cares,” Hertig said.
She also explained that the center allows students in a different walk of life to make friends, gain support and stay involved in campus activities. While Hertig said she felt the night was a success, much planning went into picking an activity that the students would enjoy.
Hertig has worked in the center for about a year, and said she really enjoys meeting all of the students and hearing their stories.
“All of the students have very different, diverse backgrounds, and it’s great to get to know them as people and not just as another random student.”
Another student in attendance was senior Marti Autrey, who is retired and married with two children. She said she is attending WSU to broaden her knowledge, and is expecting to graduate this December in gerontology. Like Boyd, she is a regular of the center. Although she has not been to many of the past activities, she said she always enjoys whatever she can attend.
“This is a great place for discussion because everyone brings diversity, life experience, and it’s a good place to make friends,” Autrey said.
Autrey said she also enjoyed the pizza and thought the movie was great, mentioning that she will definitely have to watch it again.
For more information regarding activities and opportunities, students can go to Room 322 in the Shepherd Union Building. Like Hertig said, “This place is always hoppin’.”
