Transfer students gathered for a bowling night at Hillsdale Lanes Jan. 31 to foster friendship and community. 

Junior Lucy Treene transferred her sophomore year and organized the event. Treene said the event was a great way for everyone to connect. 

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to have the old transfers meet the past transfers, because they have a unique perspective on what it’s like to have a fresh start,” Treene said. “There are also fewer activities and events that help with this in the spring semester, so I thought this was a good way to start.” 

About 15 old and new transfers came, and the group bowled for nearly two hours. 

Freshman Desmond Mowry started college this spring semester and said the bowling night helped make connecting fun. 

“It was the perfect environment for making friends,” Mowry said. “As a transfer student, it can sometimes be challenging to break the ice and find your place in a new environment, but bowling was the perfect opportunity to meet fellow transfer students and connect over friendly competition and laughter.”

Sophomore Erin Freidenfeld transferred last spring and said she has felt welcomed by the community at Hillsdale.

“The Hillsdale community is so welcoming and kind while pushing you to always be a better version of yourself intellectually and spiritually,” Freidenfeld said. “It’s rare to find that in a college these days, and I know I’m incredibly lucky to have that here.”

The event was paid for by the Student Activities Board.

“I hope to do this event every year, I think it would be great if this was a consistent thing,” Treene said. “It was a perfect way of getting to know other students and be welcomed into the community here.”