Ada schools are in session for 2017-18. Ohio Northern University is right behind. Icon viewers have noticed out-of-town cars passing through town packed with college student paraphernalia.
This is a long weekend appropriately called "Welcome Weekend," for all new students. It started this morning at 8 a.m.and runs through Sunday at 11 p.m.
Events range from Spirit Rock signing to an opening convocation, academic meetings, Operation Glow, ACE Day, ending with a movie on the Tundra.
Ohio Northern University will put active learning and community involvement into practice with the annual Ada Community Engagement (ACE) Day beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19.
The program is designed to engage incoming students with their college home and provide opportunities for ONU’s first-year students to contribute to the village and surrounding communities.
University members will travel to several individual residences to help with projects such as weeding, mulching and painting.
The Ohio Northern University observatory will be open to the public to view “The Great American Solar Eclipse” from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21. The observatory is located on the west side of campus, off of Lincoln Avenue and near the baseball field.
“We will not experience totality in Ada, but the sun will be covered up to 85 percent,” said Jason Pinkney, Ph.D., professor of physics and astronomy and manager of the ONU observatory.
As part of the Ohio Northern's LL.M. program's two-week orientation, students met with Ada Mayor Dave Retterer, (far left), and Ada Police Chief Michael Harnishfeger (far right). Students learned about municipal services, local governance, and law enforcement in Ada. This year's class of 25 students includes 10 from Afghanistan, 8 from Kosovo, 2 from Malawi, and 1 each from Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Georgia.
Barb Meek, a 1990 ONU public relations graduate, returns to ONU as director of alumni relations.
She began her career as the assistant director of public information and director of publications.
From there, she held an advancement position with Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus before spending six years at Kenyon College as director of campus events and then as assistant director of alumni and parent relations and annual funds.
Most recently, she was director of community relations and development for a food pantry in Pickerington.