Students excited to return to NSU for spring 2012

As the spring 2012 semester gets under way at Northeastern State University, students are finding their assigned classrooms, visiting the RiverHawk Shoppe bookstore and re-entering campus life.

For many, a return to campus is an exciting time. Wendell Blackwell Jr., a sophomore business major from Broken Bow, said he enjoyed all facets of campus life, fun or serious.

Of course I love the free time chilling with my friends, playing video games, meeting girls, he said. However, Ive also completed most of my general education requirements and this semester I get to start working toward my business major. Im really looking forward to that.

Perhaps those most anticipating the new term are those nearing graduation. James Bagwell of Wetumka, Leslie Gibson of Bixby and Jamie Thomas of Eufaula all said the expected attainment of a degree in 2012 made the beginning of classes energizing.

It seemed a degree was so far away when I started college and now I almost have one, Gibson said. I just have a little farther to go and a lot of doors will open for me.

New classes and instructors are another reason students are eager for the terms start.

Being able to switch from last semesters classes to this semesters is exciting, said Thomas, a corporate communications major. You start learning new subjects and its always something fresh.

NSU is home to 13 Greek chapters which encourage friendship, scholarship, leadership, campus involvement and community service among their members.

Bagwell, a mass communication major, said he never pictured himself in a fraternity. But as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, it has become a great part of my life.

Im really happy to be back on campus where I can spend time with my sorority sisters, said Melody Ashkar, a Tulsa sophomore majoring in health care administration. I honestly got bored over the holidays because all my friends from high school have moved elsewhere. Now that Im back at NSU and with my sisters in Alpha Sigma Alpha, this is more my atmosphere.

Tristan Hutson, a freshman criminal justice-legal studies major from Sallisaw, and Katelyn Manning, a Muskogee freshman, are members of Alpha Omicron Pi.

Getting back to our sisters is really what were looking forward to, Hutson said. We were only initiated at the end of the fall 2011 semester and were still discovering what AOPi is all about. We want to continue working with our sisters to learn about what they do on campus and how they help the community.

The reasons students choose NSU are myriad. Some cite the high-quality education offered and others enjoy the campus life. Manning mentioned familiarity.

NSU has always been my choice because my older sister went to school here, she said. I remember visiting when I was little. Ive always wanted to come here and follow in my sisters footsteps.

Bagwell said he appreciated the openness between faculty and students at NSU.

Every professor Ive had at Northeastern, I would go so far as to say Ive had a pretty good friendship with each, he said. They were always accessible and wanted me to succeed in their classes. I always enjoyed that.

Gibson, a health and human performance major, said she couldn't imagine earning her degree elsewhere.

Ive enjoyed going to school here, she said. Ive met thousands of new people from all over the world. I love it, because Ive created friendships Ill take with me for a lifetime.