School year kicks off with full slate of Welcome Week activities

Two students holding puppies

Kickball, pizza, Elvis, IGNITE, puppies and the annual Block Party are among the highlights of Welcome Week as thousands of students return to Youngstown State University for the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

Events run through Friday, Sept. 2. Visit the Welcome Week webpage for more information.

Hundreds of students are expected to attend the annual Block Party in Kilcawley Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. The event features free food and drinks, cake, karaoke and more than 35 booths with prizes, including gift cards, a room refrigerator, t-shirts and sweatshirts, event tickets and more.

Among the other events:

Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 22 and 23: Ignite. First-year students get to know, faculty, staff and each other in preparation for the year ahead. For more information, contact First Year Student Services at 330-941-2131.

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1 to 3 p.m. Squirt Gun Painting, Cafaro House Green. Students will create their own artistic masterpiece using only paint and a squirt gun.

Wednesday, Aug. 24. First day of classes.

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room. Free food and drinks, party cake, karaoke and more than 35 booths with prizes, including gift cards, a room refrigerator, t-shirts and sweatshirts, event tickets and more.

Thursday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Student Veterans Welcome Cookout at the Veterans Resource Center, East Lawn. For more information, contact Rick Williams at plwilliams@ysu.edu.

Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Student Leadership Summit, Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room. Guest speakers, interactive leadership sessions, giveaways, and lunch. The summit provides an opportunity for student organization leaders to network and get to know other organization members, all the while learning of the many features that are available to all of our registered organizations. For more information, contact Student Activities at 330-941-3575.

Puppy Palooza in the Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center is part of YSU’s Welcome Week.

Monday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Puppy Palooza, Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center. For more information, visit ysu.edu/reccenter or contact Ryan McNicholas at ramcnicholas@ysu.edu.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, noon to 3 p.m. SGA’s Ice Cream Extravaganza, Campus Core, Kilcawley Center.

Thursday, Sept. 1, 7:30 pm, Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins football team kicks off the 2016 season vs. Duquense. Students can obtain a complimentary ticket with a valid YSU ID. For more information, contact 330-941-1978