USU's A-Team pities the fool who tries to start college without transition skills

By Sarah Reale

April 19, 2005 | One student is 22, from Salt Lake City, majoring in elementary education.

Another student is 21 from California, majoring in audiology. There are 25 of them, all students at Utah State University. Each unique in character but all spending their summer in Logan for the same purpose: to orient new students to Utah State University.

Who are they? The A-Team and proud of it.

The A-Team started years ago when the university asked a group of current students to help incoming freshmen with their transition to college, says the Official A-Team Training Guide.

Since then, the A-Team title and the Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) program have grown to be highly recognized, said the Program Administrator Lisa Hancock.

"These 25 current USU students are remarkable, what they do for the new students is beyond words, they really are a talented bunch," said Hancock.

The A-Team spends every summer in Logan helping at SOAR. They advise, help the students register and become their mentor, said Hancock.

"Joining the A-Team was the best decision I have ever made" said one student on the A-Team, Karilyn Flake, a sophomore majoring in special education.

Flake said her favorite part about being on the A-Team is being a mentor to the new students. She e-mails many of them weekly, keeping them up to date on the activities going on at USU.

"Even though I don't get paid a lot to be on the A-Team, it is worth it.

There is no job that gives you the experience, the friendships, and the fun," said Flake.

Another A-Team member, Rusty Rigby a junior majoring in math education, said, "It is fulfilling at the end of a SOAR day to know that you helped a new student with their transition to college, Rusty has been on the A-Team for two years, and wants to continue until he graduates.

Deborah Reece, an academic advisor in the Advising and Transfer Services said,

"The A-Team is a group of phenomenal students. They make our jobs as advisors easier, and are a great asset to the university.

Reece has been an advisor at USU for over nine years and has worked with the A-Team every summer. "I really don't think the transition to college would be as successful for the new students without the A-Team," Reece said.

Reece also said that the members of the A-Team are known across campus for their success, yet they are humble. "Being a member of the A-Team is more than the title, it is about making a difference at your university," said Rigby.

If you would like to apply to be a member of the A-Team, contact Lisa Hancock at 435-797-0283 or stop by the Taggart Student Center Room 310.

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