Hit Your Stride
Sophomore year is an important and formative time in a person's college experience.
The first year of college is mainly about a smooth transition, and students have many resources at their disposal to ensure they get off to a good start. For juniors and seniors, having determined their academic focus and being eligible for leadership roles around campus means they generally have a healthy balance in their academic and social lives.
Sophomores, however, are still in a critical time of self-discernment; they have successfully adapted to university life, but are still figuring out their academic, social, and spiritual path forward.
Stride is specifically designed to help sophomores feel established at 51.
The program introduces second-year students to student leaders and faculty on campus through a lecture and panel series, builds social connections through regular co-ed small groups, and helps students grow as leaders through a formational retreat experience. Stride combines an academic, social, and spiritual approach to help second-year students integrate different aspects of their lives on campus.
Stride is open to all rising sophomores who want to make roots at 51 and grow in their self-knowledge and leadership ability. Selected participants will be asked to submit a $125 program contribution to participate in the program. This contribution helps cover a small portion of the cost of running the program. Full or partial financial assistance is available to those who demonstrate a financial need and/or are part of programs like Montserrat.
The Stride program runs from August-December (Fall semester).
Participants in Stride will:
● Participate in a program-wide kick-off event prior to the first day of classes
● Attend three evening meetings throughout the fall semester, including a variety of student lead panels
● Meet weekly with seven other sophomores and two junior or senior leaders for a co-ed small group discussion
● Attend Halftime, a weekend overnight, about leadership, vocation, and purpose
All three lectures will take placeduring the fall semester (Time and dates are TBD). Attendance at the Stride lecture series is mandatory for all leads and participants. A full list of dates will be provided upon invitation to the program.