What is a First Year Leader and why are they so important to Centenary’s first-year students?

First Year Leaders are upper class students at Centenary College who have been hand-picked because of their leadership qualities. They help bridge the gap between first-year students and administration/faculty by providing useful and necessary information within realistic contexts.

Essentially, First Year Leaders are student resources. They fill the roles of mentors, friend or informative source for incoming students. Because First Year Leaders are also Centenary College students, they have personally had many of the same questions, concerns, and problems in their process adjusting to life at Centenary.

Each August, they go through an extensive training program that teaches them to provide emotional, information, and academic support for first-year students. They work full time during Orientation, and on a part time basis during the academic year.

What are the responsibilities of  the First Year Leaders?

The goal of the First Year Leader Program is simple: to help new students smoothly make the transition from high school to college. First Year Leaders are embedded in the Academic Foundations at Centenary Courses (AFC) and attend every session of their assigned class. In the classroom they are expected to aid the professor. Outside class, the FYL’s are available to tutor students in all AFC related course work and are responsible for coordinating social programs that promote team building and bonding.

How is the program designed?

Centenary’s faculty and staff crafted the program after the best practices identified across college institutions throughout the country. But the Centenary Program reflects our own values, particularly those that foster a respect for diversity, even in the way we learn, a commitment to collaborative learning and a belief in service to others.

How can I become a First Year Leader?

As you think about your learning experience, consider this: First Year Leaders are role models. They are trained in communication models and in how to teach others to learn. They bring to their jobs the wisdom that comes from having once been a new student and wanting to help others deal with life experiences, and ultimately to succeed at Centenary.  If you are interested in becoming a First Year Leader please contact Joshua Walker or mention your interest to one of your professors or FYLs.