Chancellor's Picnic kicks off the 2010-11 academic year

Chancellor Richard Ringeisen welcomed new and returning students, faculty and staff during his annual picnic on August 24, 2010. Nearly 700 people showed up for the event featuring free hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and other food.

“This is so much fun, because the semester is just beginning and students don’t feel a lot of pressure yet and neither do the faculty,” said Ringeisen.

The picnic is designed to give students a chance to meet the chancellor, faculty and other staff members that will be important during their time on campus.

“If we went to a bigger school we probably wouldn’t have that opportunity to have a one-on-one with the chancellor. Here he noticed me from before and this time I actually got to know him,” said De’Anna Winters, a senior communication major.

Ringiesen credits the popularity of the picnic with an increasing number of students who are choosing to live on campus.

“It’s been growing and growing over the last few years,” he said.

Senior psychology major Britni Prusa came to the picnic with other members of the UIS volleyball team.

“It’s a nice way to meet people, especially for the freshmen,” she said.

The celebration is part of Welcome Week 2010, which includes a variety of events designed to get students involved on campus.