Every summer, a group of University of Alabama students clad in crimson and gray polos strive to provide essential support to incoming students to help them adjust to their new college lives. From class registration to personal advice, this diverse group of leaders teaches future UA students everything they need to know in order to be successful at the Capstone.

To these Avantis, leading orientation sessions has become a great way to get involved in the UA community.

“I was interested in getting involved in our community at the University, and one of the ways I could do so was by helping incoming students through the orientation process,” said Jeremy Blount, a junior majoring in biology.

Blount said a great benefit of being an Avanti is the connections he has made with fellow students, faculty and staff.

“You meet a very diverse group of people, and it has helped me make connections all around campus,” Blount said.

Although orientations are often specifically geared towards incoming freshmen, some of the sessions are planned to accommodate the needs of transfer students. Victor Williams, a junior majoring in event planning, said that the Bama Bound sessions become a useful tool for transfer students.

“Being set in my ways, going through my Bama Bound session as a transfer student helped me ease into the UA community as well as to establish great connections,” Williams said. “It made my transition easier, and I really enjoy being able to do the same for other new students.”

Nicholas Kelly, a junior majoring in exercise science, said he enjoys being able to ease the transition for new students, but he said the skills he has developed will help him in his personal future endeavors.

“As an Avanti, you develop customer service and interpersonal skills that will prepare you for the future,” Kelly said. “You also learn a lot about yourself and how to interact with others who are different from you.”

Working five days a week with early mornings that often last until late hours in the night can be extremely demanding and time-consuming for team members. Katie von Diezelski, a sophomore majoring in accounting, said the key to balancing everything is thorough time management.

“You have to find the balance between being an Avanti and your personal life through good time management,” von Diezelski said. “You have to make the time for everything and use the time you have off wisely.”

Despite having a demanding schedule, Blount said sacrificing his free time throughout the summer to be a part of the program has been a great experience.

“I do get a bit jealous of my fellow peers who are hanging out at the pool all day,” Blount said. “But when you think about all of the things you are doing for the incoming families who are looking for guidance from us, you remember why you signed up to be a part of the team in the first place. Through this experience, I’ve met some great people and done some great things that have made me a better person.”