MANSFIELD, PA—Fifteen incoming students learned about leadership and the Mansfield Creed (character, scholarship, culture, and service) before ever taking a class at MU by taking part in the 101st First Year Student Adventure last week.
With student team leaders Stephanie Hendricks, Josh Braun, Olga Bilardi and Shayna Flint showing the way, 101st participants took part in several team building exercises and bonding experiences.
When they arrived on campus last Tuesday, Kelchner Fitness Center (KFC) Director Amy DeLozier, Assistant Director Mike Stamp and the KFC staff led the new 
students on the ropes courses on campus and the climbing wall at the KFC.
They also heard a presentation from Frank Crofchick, the program’s creator and MU associate director of Student Life, and took part in other activities.
On Wednesday, the 101st headed to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon to assist the Thomas Oliver of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in rebuilding a foot bridge and repairing a flooded path.
Following their service project, the 101st returned to campus to participate in an upperclassman panel with the team leaders to ask any questions they have about
college and Mansfield.
Thursday, the participants volunteered to assist the Residence Life staff and others in helping their fellow new students move into their residence halls.
“This year’s group of the 101st were so welcoming to one another and truly created a bond throughout this program,” Crofchick said. “After the program, a number of participants asked to be team leaders next year and would like to extend the program another day or two.”
“Our team leaders this year made this program as successful as it was,” he added. “They were the definition of what a role model and a Mountie should be.”
The program is in its third year. The name, 101st, is based on Company B, 101st Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, who fought in the Civil War. The soldiers were from Mansfield and the surrounding area and were later known as the Tioga Mountaineers.
MU’s mascot and nickname, Mountaineers, honors the same Regiment.
For more information on community and volunteer services at MU, go to mansfield.edu/community-service2