FYSH -First Year Students of Hillel

Laura Don: JCSC Fellow, Oregon Hillel

FYSH -First Year Students of Hillel

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FYSH Co-chairs: Shoshi Zeldner
(left) and Talya Weiner ( right)

Programs:

Welcome Back Pizza

At the begininning of each term FYSH sponsors a FREE pizza night at either Pegasus or Track Town Pizza. Track Town Pizza is able to give us a better discount and they are more pleasant to work with. Over 50 students attend. Biggest program of the year! Great engagement opportunity!

Friends and Falafel

We worked with res -life to coordinate the watching of Friends and eating falafel in the Walton Complex Hawthorne Lounge ( on campus). We purchased falafel for 50 people from Alex. We handed out information about falafel and did some Jewish trivia during commercial breaks. This was a very successful engagement program.

Havdallah on the Ice/Broomball

We celebrated Havdallah at the ice rink and then played broomball. Lots of fun but huge liability. Make sure everyone signs a waiver before getting on the ice.

Strategies for success:

Engaging new First Year Students is extremly important. I have found that programs on-campus ( in the res halls, at the food court etc.) have been successful at engaging new FYSH students. It is important to meet the students where they are. Residential Life is a great resource and partner. I would recommend going to a staff meeting at each complex in the beginning of the year to introduce yourself to the RA's and to let them know that you are here as a resource for them. You can drop off flyers at the Res Life Office in the Walton Complex and they will put them in each RA's mailbox. Calling freshman and inviting them to programs has been somewhat successful. Once a week I send out an e-mail to the FYSH students to invite them to "Schmooze with Jews" at Ben and Jerry's.