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As seasonal enrollment beckons, first-year students’ excitement, and inevitably their anxieties, grow. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Cougar Connectors are there to ease transitions. The Cougar Connector program is a network of student-leaders who are boots-on-the-ground companions for new students.

“Cougar Connectors are orientation leaders, Welcome Weekend leaders and first semester transition leaders,” says Lindsay Winkeler, new student transitions coordinator and organizer of the Cougar Connector program from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “They undergo seven to eight weeks of training to make sure they are ready to welcome the new students. They cover topics like communication, conflict resolution, their personal strengths, working as a team and university knowledge.”

For many, Cougar Connectors are the first in-person representative for visitors to the University. It’s a way for future students to connect with their peers and parents to visualize how their young adults can flourish and integrate as part of the campus community.

“Cougar Connectors are usually one of the first people new students and their families meet,” said Winkeler. “I believe they are a significant asset because programs like these can be make or break for the students. They use these transition programs to see themselves as students at SIUE. The student-leaders make the students feel welcomed, comfortable and that they truly belong here.”

That sense of belonging is integral for students who are discovering their individuality as scholars, expressionists and budding professionals. It is especially critical for first-generation college students, international students, or those who stem from diverse ethnic or socio-economical backgrounds. Meeting someone who mirrors a student’s identity in person can create a lasting impression of belonging. Cougar Connectors thrive on establishing that trust when welcoming new students to campus.

“My continuous interactions with students as a Cougar Connector have been one of the most encouraging and rewarding experiences during my time at SIUE,” said Mirella Eldridge, a Cougar Connector and third-year student studying industrial engineering. “As a student, I have increased my knowledge of campus leadership, built long-lasting friendships and grown my awareness of the resources and support I have to be a successful at SIUE. My growth as a student has helped me to be able to motivate and guide incoming student's success as they launch into the higher-level education atmosphere.”

Eldridge commented that the organization also creates leadership opportunities for students who may not have foreseen themselves in leadership positions.

“This a place of leadership that I never thought I would find myself in, but is one that has created such impact on my life and the students, that it will be bittersweet to leave," Eldridge said.

For other Cougar Connectors, it is the journey that gives them the most gratification.

“While being a Cougar Connector, I have enjoyed meeting the students that come through orientation and Welcome Weekend and seeing them grow,” said Clare Huels, a Cougar Connector and third-year student studying elementary education. “We get to experience meeting the students, some of them the first time stepping on campus and seeing them later fully emerged in the SIUE Community. This position has created friendships and connections on campus that I would not have experienced without this role.”

Winkler explains that the Cougar Connector program inspires students to carry that torch for the next cohort. The connection goes beyond first impressions for students and families. Cougar Connectors build bridges by establishing community, friendship and engagement.

“Often times students want to become Cougar Connectors because they had amazing leaders or continue to be friends with their leaders after the programs have ended,” Winkeler said. “Cougar Connectors function as student-liaisons by either sharing their experiences across campus, which encourages new students to find their niche here and get involved or recruit members from other organizations they are a part of to join Cougar Connectors.”

Once a student is enrolled at SIUE, the Cougar Connectors help integrate them into the fabric of the campus. It is another way that SIUE endorses belonging and encourages students to connect to the diverse world around them. For some, it’s a gateway to life-long friendships. For all, it’s a way to celebrate being an individual. You belong here.

This article is part of the "You Belong Here" story series, which showcases the remarkable journeys of SIUE students as they strive to achieve their academic, personal, and professional aspirations. Through this series, we aim to highlight the diverse experiences and achievements of our students, showcasing their resilience, determination and growth.

By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire current and prospective students, as well as the wider community, to recognize that SIUE is a place where dreams can be realized. Our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment empowers our students to flourish academically, personally and professionally.

PHOTO: Mirella Eldridge advising training courses for developing Cougar Connector student-leaders