New Student and Family Programs is preparing for next summer’s SOAR sessions. (Yes, already!) A key to
our success is selecting strong students to serve as orientation leaders.
As a former orientation leader, I found the experience to be valuable and fulfilling. Here are five reasons I
would encourage your student to apply to be a SOAR leader.
Building skills
SOAR leader training helps students build highly-demanded skills, such as
Group discussion and facilitation
Public speaking
Critical thinking
Teamwork
Better still, they sharpen these skills through practical, real-world application.
Earning perks
SOAR leaders earn several benefits for their service, including:
Compensation (usually 40 hrs/week)
Free on-campus summer housing
A free summer meal plan
A free SOAR uniform
Campus departments often ask SOAR leaders to test new programs, provide feedback, or apply for other
jobs or leadership positions. Being a SOAR leader has its perks!
Building relationships
This position allows SOAR leaders to form bonds with:
New students they mentor
Fellow SOAR leaders, who often become lifelong friends
Faculty and staff advisors, who often mentor them and provide professional references
Other University administrators, including the University president!
Learning from others
The SOAR team is a diverse one, made of individuals with different majors, interests, and backgrounds.
Students often find that listening to and working with their teammates provides them a new or deeper
understanding of the Missouri State community.
Using campus resources
In learning how to help new students and families, SOAR leaders learn about Missouri State resources
that will help them, too. Many SOAR leaders report taking advantage of resources they learn about during
their training.
Please encourage your student to join us at our upcoming information sessions to learn more about
becoming a SOAR leader:
Tuesday, October 15 at 5:30 PM in Hill Hall 002
Wednesday, October 16 at 5:30 PM in Hill Hall 002
At this meeting, we will discuss leader’s duties, qualifications, and responsibilities. We will also provide
tips for applying for the position.
Students can also visit our Become a SOAR Leader page or contact us for more information.