Bringing the UW Tacoma community together

Convocation is one of the most welcoming activities universities offer to kick off the school year for new students and returning students alike.

At UW Tacoma’s Convocation Sept. 29, students, their families, alumni, faculty and other community members met  at the Grand Staircase to hear from Mark Pagano, UWT’s fourth Chancellor. This event gave students a chance to socialize with other new students, visit the UWT community and welcome the new school year.

The famous Pacific Northwest rain, however, had other plans for the day and ended up stopping the outdoor meeting briefly, causing everyone to move inside to get shelter from the classic Tacoma weather.

William Philip Hall quickly became a full house, packed with cheery new students and professors. Performances started outside with the Lincoln High School drumline, but moved indoors as the rain became heavier. Students DJ’ed inside the hall and set an upbeat tone for the whole event. Chancellor Pagano and other faculty members welcomed everyone in the room, all whom were anticipating the upcoming school year.

At this point the party was just getting started. Excited chatter filled the room and everyone waited for what was to come, especially the welcoming BBQ after the ceremony. Local businesses and nonprofits set up tables to interact with students. Organizations such as the Tacoma Rainiers, Stocklist Goods, Savor Creperie, United Way, Wells Fargo and the YMCA all gathered in WPH for the BBQ. Travel Tacoma, the Broadway Center and even more participated and helped kick of the year at Convocation. This event was a great way for participants and businesses to get involved  with the UWT community.

Another new year, another annual school tradition checked off the list. Though it may have initially seemed chaotic and a little soggy, the 2017 Convocation didn’t fall short of anyone’s expectations and will be remembered for years to come.