Every year, GW Engineering is excited to welcome incoming students to our community, with the School of Engineering & Applied Science Student Peer Advisory Network (SEASSPAN) being integral in making students feel at home. Their support doesn’t stop in August, though, as they host countless events throughout the academic year to foster community and ensure first-year, sophomore, and transfer students have what they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. One of their latest events was a PJ Party on November 15 in the Science & Engineering Hall (SEH).
SEASSPAN is a student leadership organization comprised of approximately 30 carefully selected mentors from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Often the first to interact with admitted GW Engineering students, their unique backgrounds and interests complement the diversity of the first-year and sophomore classes, enabling them to offer effective student-to-student help for academics, professional opportunities, and more. Mentors assist with a variety of events, such as tours, panels, and the new student experience, while cultivating valuable community-building and leadership skills.
“Being a part of SEASSPAN and the Executive Board has been incredibly rewarding, especially providing a safe space and a strong support system for the first-year students. This mentoring program has helped me develop my leadership and organizational skills since I have had to hold many events for my mentees and, more recently, began running SEASSPAN’s social media profiles,” said Nora Shields, the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for SEASSPAN.
For first-year students, the SEH PJ Party was a fun-filled night featuring countless opportunities to de-stress and connect with one another and the mentors. Each room hosted a different activity, from a screening of “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and arts and crafts like coloring and crafting snowflakes to a karaoke station and hot chocolate stand.
Events like the PJ Party exemplify SEASSPAN’s commitment to fostering community and offering opportunities for students at all levels to engage and build lasting connections. This semester, they’ve also hosted information sessions on becoming a mentor, supported class registration, and organized other community events like Donuts with Dean Jason Zara. With initiatives like these, SEASSPAN continues to play a vital role in shaping a supportive and engaging academic experience at GW Engineering.