Photos: Wildcat Welcome Center opens as U of A's 'front door' to prospective students
By Kyle Mittan, University Communications
Open house speakers and attendees during the ribbon cutting for the Wildcat Welcome Center, from left: Arizona Ambassador Om Jariwala; Mary Venezia, associate dean for undergraduate admissions; Arizona Ambassador Bailey Dreitz; U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva; University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella; U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani; Tucson Mayor Regina Romero; Kris Wong Davis, vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions; ASUA President Katie Kelliher; Arizona Board of Regents Student Regent Felipe Garcia; Josh Wright, U of A chief facilities and planning officer; and Arizona Ambassador Jessica Mendoza.
Drew Bourland/University Marketing and Communications
The University of Arizona has a new dedicated space to welcome prospective students and their families to campus.
The Wildcat Welcome Center opened its doors in the Student Union Memorial Center on Wednesday with an open house that included remarks from U of A, local and state leaders before a ribbon cutting and an all-campus reception.
Completed just before classes began this fall, the center is the new homebase for campus tours with the U of A's student tour guides, Arizona Ambassadors. The new location is designed to be a central, welcoming space to support students and their families during their college-decision exploration process and to help them get a genuine feel for the university's community and culture.
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella said the space is a reflection of the U of A's commitment to student success as its "North Star" alongside other programs and initiatives to support students – including internships, study abroad experiences and resources for mental health, among others.
"The Wildcat Welcome Center is our latest investment in everyone who chooses the University of Arizona, and I look forward to the many student journeys it will set in motion," Garimella said after the event. "From their first visit to campus through graduation and long into the careers they build for themselves, this university is committed to supporting every Wildcat at every step.”
The center also has open spaces for high school groups to gather for workshops to learn about academic programs, financial aid, student life, the application process and more. The Wednesday open house also featured a performance by the Sunnyside High School Mariachi Band Mariachi Los Diablitos.
The speaking program also included U.S. Reps. Adelita Grijalva and Juan Ciscomani and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero – all U of A graduates. All spoke of the importance of having a space to welcome students and their families as they mark a new chapter and start the journey toward college degrees.
Kris Wong Davis, vice president of enrollment management and dean of admissions, said the space, as the university's new "front door," was intended to be the first stop toward helping students feel more connected to the U of A.
"Navigating where to start can feel overwhelming on a large campus, but this gives students a place to begin that is easy to find and where they can feel connected," Wong Davis said after the event.
See below a gallery of images from Wednesday's open house.
