Prospective Sooners will swarm the OU campus Saturday as Prospective Student Services hosts Sooner Saturday, the university's largest recruitment event, filled with information sessions, open houses and meetings with current OU students.

Andy Roop, director of OU recruitment services, said more than 2,000 in-state and out-of-state high school seniors are expected to attend, but with the students' families also in attendance, around 3,000 people are expected to be on campus.

Roop said Sooner Saturday is the one day that prospective students who aren't otherwise able to visit can visit OU's campus, eat in the cafeteria, see the library and visit Oklahoma Memorial Union.

"There isn't anything a student can't do," Roop said.

Roop said prospective students are attending the event from all over the country.

"We expect that about 500 students are from out of state," Roop said. "But the majority of those are from Texas."

More than 400 current OU students have volunteered for Sooner Saturday.

"We have a large showing of support from current OU students," Roop said. "Current OU student volunteers are so important because they are able to talk about what OU has to offer better than anyone."

Lauren Bivens, president of the American Indian Student Association and broadcast journalism senior, said she volunteered for Sooner Saturday to speak to the students as a representative of the American Indian student population.

"I don't think students can just hear about OU without seeing it and the multicultural atmosphere," Bivens said. "Sooner Saturday gives students an inside look into campus and the sense of family that we have here."

Bivens said she thinks it's important for current students to volunteer because it shows their involvement on campus and that students care about campus.

Roop said most colleges and departments will participate in some way.

"There's no way it could be successful without the participation of all colleges and departments on campus," Roop said.

The Health Sciences Center will also bring about 90 representatives to offer information.

"The Health Sciences Center will bring someone from each of their departments," Roop said. "They'll be available to talk to students about the transition from the OU campus to the HSC."

Roop said OU President David L. Boren will be welcoming prospective students to campus and several campus departments and colleges will participate in Sooner Saturday's open house. Housing and Food Services, ROTC and University College are just a few of the open house participants.

"It's a great opportunity for students to catch a glimpse of what OU has to offer," Roop said. "Sooner Saturday is a way for the university to showcase why it's great to be a Sooner."

Roop said Bank of Oklahoma is the title sponsor of Sooner Saturday and will be giving away two $1,000 scholarships to students who attend.
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