Eastern Student Matthew Hicks of Wallingford to Serve as Head Student Orientation Counselor

2014 Jun 10

Matthew Hicks '15 of Wallingford, CT, is one of this year's Head Student Orientation Counselors (SOCs) for the upcoming SOAR program at Eastern Connecticut State University.

SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) is Eastern's premier transitional program for incoming freshmen and transfer students. It is coordinated by the Office of Student Activities and led by students, trained as Student Orientation Counselors, who act as guides and mentors for groups of new students.

It is the responsibility of Head SOCs to train the group of SOCs for the arrival of the fall semester so they will be qualified to lead groups of new students through the multi-session orientation process known as SOAR.

Both Hicks and his associate, co-Head SOC Kristen Chonko '15 of Stratford, were SOCs last year. "It is an exciting opportunity to be able to train new SOCs and lead them through the awesome experience I had last year," said Hicks. "The best part is helping the students and seeing them go from nervous to excited about starting their college career."

Hicks, whose major is Political Science, has been training for the Head SOC position and preparing for SOAR since January 2014. Among Chonko and Hicks' first tasks was sifting through 75 applications, interviewing students and selecting 16 of them to serve as SOCs.

"We will act as their supervisors throughout SOAR," said Chonko. "We have assisted in planning, creating and changing the training program they will go through," continued Hicks.

As a Head SOC, Hicks will co-lead the group of 16 through an intensive week-long training this June, filled with a number of activities and teambuilding exercises.

Upon reflecting on his experience thus far, Hick said, "being a Head SOC is a great opportunity to develop as a leader and professional outside of the classroom."