Back to School: Sooner kickoff event to provide students chance to mingle

Students will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Norman community and fellow new Sooners at a kickoff event following freshman move-in.

The Norman Chamber of Commerce is working with the OU Housing and Food Department to sponsor the Norman Sooner Kickoff event.

This year’s kickoff is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at Walker-Adams Mall.

Homeland, Walgreens, Ratcliff’s Textbooks, Community Afterschool, Victory Church, FAA Credit Union, Wesley Foundation, Eden Clinic and University Town Center will all be represented at the event, Norman Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Member Services and Sales Lisa Allen said.

Allen said they plan to add more vendors on that list.

“This event is a festival for new OU students to orient and acquaint them with the services and products available in the Norman community,” Allen said.

Allen said the vendors will have coupons, food and product samples, giveaways and information for the students.

There also will be music and OU Food Services will be there serving dinner. It’s a fun, social and informative event for new OU students, Allen said.

Additionally, Adrian Buendia with Nexus Productions will have a DJ booth and an Eskimo Sno booth. Target and Best Buy also will be there with free giveaways, Allen said.

OU Housing and Food Services is also hosting another event called the Target After Hours Shopping Event, spokeswoman Amy Buchanan said. The event is 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Aug. 18.

Students can access the bus from the south side of the Walker-Adams Mall, Buchanan said.

Jenna Bielman

Jenna is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Campus Reporter and Campus Reporter.