UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students are invited to apply to be New Student Orientation leaders and welcome the next class of Penn Staters.
The “OTeam” spends most of the summer leading incoming students through New Student Orientation (NSO) at the University Park campus, gaining valuable mentoring skills and working closely with the staff at Student Orientation and Transition Programs.
Summer 2022 orientation leader Meghan Duda said she joined the OTeam to be a resource for students like she had when she first arrived at Penn State. Duda, a biological engineering major from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, is also the 2023 NSO student coordinator.
“Some of my best experiences from orientation include meeting and really bonding with a lot of my small groups,” she said. “It’s so fun to see them around campus and look at how much they are enjoying their time at Penn State! I also had such a great time every day hanging out with the other orientation leaders, they truly made it such a great summer.”
Duda added that in addition to gaining leadership and group discussion skills, she also formed many lasting friendships.
Nick Pazdziorko, associate director for New Student Orientation, will enter his second summer of orientation in 2023. He said orientation leaders help make the transition for new students easier since they are current students themselves and can provide perspective.
“As we tell students and their families when they attend NSO, the orientation leaders are experts at being students,” Pazdziorko said. “Their current student experience at Penn State is invaluable at helping new Penn Staters during an important time in starting their Penn State career.”
He said working in NSO is a chance to join in the excitement of incoming students and their families. The OTeam helps students feel like they belong and start the next chapter of their lives.
“The orientation leader role is a commitment, but each day the staff showed up excited to welcome new students, parents and families to Penn State,” he said of summer 2022 NSO. “It was wonderful to hear their stories, what brought them to Penn State and how they wanted to share their experience and Penn State pride with incoming students.”
How to apply
Apply by visiting oteam.psu.edu. The deadline to apply is Nov. 18 but applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.
Applicants must also have earned at least 24 total credits by the end of the spring semester and maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5. Orientation leaders must complete a three-credit course during the spring semester and must be full-time undergraduates who plan to be enrolled in fall 2023. They must be available to work NSO from May 9 to Aug. 20, with a hiatus from July 22 to Aug. 14. Morning, late evening and weekend hours are required. Orientation leaders also cannot enroll in synchronous classes during this time or hold another job.
Student Orientation and Transition Programs is part of Penn State Student Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education.