Students attend CFAW

Young people from around the country visit Liberty’s campus over weekend

welcome — Parents and prospective students traveled to Liberty in order to get a first-hand look at the university. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Welcome — Parents and prospective students traveled to Liberty in order to get a first-hand look at the university. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Liberty University’s College for a Weekend (CFAW) is a four-day, action-packed experience. It is designed to give prospective students a taste of life at the world’s largest Christian university, according to Liberty’s website.

Kicking off Thursday afternoon at the Hancock Welcome Center and running through Sunday, CFAW offered a variety of seminars, outdoor activities and
social events Sept. 18-21.

Glenn Stepp, a 2013 Liberty graduate, is currently employed by the university and is one of the head coordinators for CFAW. He said the weekend offers many activities, including snowboarding, ice skating and a chance to visit classes.

Stepp said many of the first-time CFAW guests can feel overwhelmed, but many others have returned to attend the event for their third or fourth time.

Emma Carlson, a junior from North Carolina, had visited Liberty before, but never as part of CFAW. This semester, she had her first CFAW experience.

“CFAW is cool because you get to see more about what it’s like to be a student instead of just seeing the campus,” Carson said.

Giving visitors an opportunity to gain a student perspective is one of the main opportunities offered during the CFAW experience. They have a chance to attend Convocation, an event the CFAW itinerary describes as the world’s largest weekly gathering of Christian
young people.
Mac Powell, the lead singer of Third Day, was featured in Friday’s Convocation, which Stepp said was one of the things CFAW students most looked forward to entering the weekend.

Many students also enjoyed the Andy Mineo concert in the Vines Center on Saturday night.

CFAW student Madeline Logan said she was “super stoked” for the concert, and this sentiment was echoed by many others.

Carlson was excited for the Mineo concert, but said she was most looking forward to seeing “The Little Mermaid,” in which her cousin Rachel Osterhus plays the role of Ariel. Guests could attend the Alluvion Stage Company production at the Tower Theater Friday through Sunday.

A “getting to know Liberty” session gave students and their families the opportunity to meet the faculty and staff, while admissions sessions, financial aid question-and-answer sessions, scholarship searches, residence hall tours and study abroad information sessions provided important information for those considering Liberty, according to the CFAW itinerary.

Logan and fellow transfer student Samantha Lavoie planned on using their time on campus to choose housing for their first semester at Liberty, while Carlson hoped to get a clearer idea of what her major should be.

Overall, Carlson said she was impressed by the unique culture of Liberty, where she says the people are “really friendly” and “make you feel welcomed.”

Three more CFAW events are planned to take place throughout the school year, and juniors, seniors and transfers can register online for the next CFAW, Nov. 6-9, for $50.

Students can also bring a friend for half price or attend CFAW for free with a $250 confirmation deposit for those planning on attending Liberty.

RIEGEL is a feature reporter

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