Incoming first-year students will begin moving into the residence halls at Southwestern College on Thursday, Aug. 11.  Builder Camp and Builder Fest will kick off the 2016-2017 school year.

Builder Camp takes first-year students on and off campus for a three-day orientation to college life, and Builder Fest is an on-campus experience introducing new students to the many aspects of Southwestern College. 

New undergraduate students will be the first on campus. They will move into residence halls between 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Following the family session at 4 p.m. and the Family Farewell event at 4:30 p.m., the newly-arrived first-year students will participate in Builder Camp.  
Builder Camp will be held on campus as well as at Sky Ranch Cave Springs in Quapaw, Okla.  Students will return to campus on Aug. 14 to participate in the Freshman Workday event at Island Park from 4 to 9 p.m., sponsored by the Southwestern College Leadership program.

Transfer and returning student-athletes will move in Sunday, Aug. 14.  All other transfer and returning students will move in Saturday, Aug. 20.

Some of the Builder Fest activities include:
•    Sunday, Aug. 21, Welcome Back worship in Messenger Recital Hall from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday Sundaes from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Java Jinx.
•    Monday, Aug. 22, classes begin for students. 
•    Tuesday, Aug. 23, Rock painting party from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Wallingford lawn.
•    Wednesday, Aug. 24, Purple Pride Block Party for all students, hosted by Campus Life and Winfield Main Street.  (The event will be on campus.)
•    Thursday, Aug. 25, annual Moundbuilding Ceremony at 7 p.m., at Cole Mound Plaza at the bottom of the 77 Steps. 
•    Friday, Aug. 26, Opening Convocation at 11 a.m. in Richardson Auditorium.

Friends of Southwestern College are invited to attend the Moundbuilding Ceremony and Opening Convocation.

For more information about Builder Fest, call Anjaih Clemons at (620) 229-6168.