EOF retreat strengthens bonds for students

Bonfires, kayaking, swimming, rock wall climbing, nature walks, a rope challenge and a motivational talk were some of the highlights of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program’s retreat May 24-26 at Iroquois Springs in Rock Hill, New York.

Nearly 50 current students and the graduating senior class attended the retreat. Recent graduate Na-Tarria McSeed-Fenderson described the experience as  “reflective, tranquil–everything EOF stands for.”  It was a chance to bond with students of all ages “engaging about the different spaces and places in our lives,”  to talk about “where we are trying to go and [what we] want to be,” said Mcseed-Fenderson who earned her criminal justice bachelor’s degree with a minor in sociology on May 21.  

The retreat was made possible by a grant from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education EOF division. The aim was to “alleviate stress and the friction that resulted from the unnatural transition from high school to college in a COVID-19 setting and repair many social gaps that occurred from the virtual summer programs,”  explained EOF counselor Takiyah “Tee Jae” Drinkard.  “We were able to combine cohorts that experienced a completely normal transition into college with those who did not, and from that, each student got to discover something about themselves and each other.”

Director of the EOF program Andrei St. Felix appreciated the profound conversations she had with students on an early morning walk, by the lake or at the late night bonfire. “They felt a sense of purpose and deep conviction that their journeys at Caldwell University, as members of the EOF Program, had opened a path to life for them that was beyond their expectations.” It was a “liberating, fruitful, hopeful, and exhilarating,” experience for the students, said St. Felix. “I am extremely proud of the EOF staff for building such a powerful and successful retreat, which was the first experience of inner peace for many of our students.”

The EOF program, in partnership with Caldwell University, provides financial and educational assistance to eligible students who come from lower-income families. EOF students at Caldwell University receive academic and career advice, tutoring, academic skills and support services, leadership training, civic involvement and engagement and cultural experiences.

EOF annually runs a five-week summer program for incoming freshmen.  Since the programs in 2020 and 2021 were held virtually, this retreat was a special opportunity for students who had not previously experienced many of the social aspects of university life, to get to know other students after the academic year was over.

The students came away from the retreat motivated, refocused and excited to stay in touch with their new EOF peers hoping for the opportunity to go again next year.  Drinkard would like that to happen too. “I cannot wait to write the grant to do it for them again.”