The Pforzheimer Honors community kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with less of a “bang” and more of an excited shriek. Mentors beamed in glee at the confused faces of their mentees as they walked through a tunnel of screaming mentors, stopping often to run and hug their mentors or to wave “Hi!” Worn out from an early morning after a long day of moving in, our Honors freshmen were able to rally for a lovely Chartwells lunch with their mentors and an energetic round of Human Bingo, followed by an even more chaotic game of Connections.  

The first day of Honors Welcome Week was one of connecting and reconnecting as mentors met face-to-face with their mentees for the first time, friendships made during orientation were rekindled, and the upperclassmen mentors shared stories of their summers at home. The gym under 1 Pace Plaza had never echoed so loudly with the excitement that accompanies the beginning of a new year at Pace, and for many, a new era in life. As the first day came to a close, mentors took their mentees on a scavenger hunt tour of Pace’s buildings and what they have to offer, like the Learning Commons on the seventh floor of 15 Beekman, and Student Accessibility Services on the tenth floor of 161 William. Mentor and mentee alike returned to their homes and their dorms with newfound friendships and an array of connections to add to their network. 

The second day of Welcome Week allowed our students to sleep in a bit, which did well to prepare them for the long day of paneling ahead of them. Honors freshmen heard first-hand accounts of the Pace experience from upperclassmen in their fields of study, from alumni to whom they might look up, and from the faculty who will witness the development and successes of this incredibly impressive group of students. The students were rewarded for their patience and attention with Insomnia Cookies during their first UNV 101 class, where they were introduced to the advisors and professors who will mentor them, as well as the peers with whom they will spend the next semester growing close. The second day ended with interest groups, during which kindred students came together to nerd out about interests ranging from books to anime to sports.

The third and final day of Welcome Week took the Honors freshmen across the city, with walking tours to NYC staples like Central Park, Union Square, and DUMBO. After some short panels, mentors took their mentee tour groups to see famous sights, shop at famous stores, and eat from famous restaurants. Chaperoned by upperclassmen, out-of-state students were able to safely orient themselves with the city environment while creating connections with the mentors and mentees in their tour groups, all for free! Mentees left with the understanding that they can seek help from their mentors about a range of concerns, even if they aren’t purely academic. Mentors left with a new appreciation for all the unique places in this huge city, as they saw them through the eyes of their mentees. 

Though a recent development, Honors Welcome Week has already solidified itself as a Pace tradition honored (if not by time) by the freshmen and transfer students it embraces and by the friendships and connections it fosters. Mentor Caroline Lattanzio (‘27) reminisced, “If we didn’t have Welcome Week, I don’t think my transition from out-of-state would have been as positive as it was.” Reflecting on her long day of paneling from the prior year, she said, “Even though the activities seemed awkward or even boring, they were so integral in my feeling connected with my peers, mentors, and advisors.” With similar sentiment, Mentee Dakotah Hubbard (‘28) mused, “There is no better way to start at a new school than to enter through a row of cheering upperclassmen.” Welcome Week is a young tradition, but a strong one. I can’t wait to see the excitement brought, opportunities created, and connections fostered by the Welcome Weeks of the coming years.