On Wednesday, August 26th, Catholic Campus Ministry at Elon University welcomed new and returning students with the annual Newman Center BBQ.

Each year students are ushered back into the new school year at Elon with a plate full of North Carolina BBQ, a table full of new friends, and a soul full of joy. This year was no exception with a huge turnout and lots of fun!

The classic BBQ atmosphere was complete with various lawn games including ladder ball and corn hole. Students spread out over the large front lawn to enjoy their food and play games while music played throughout the crowd.

Being new to Elon CCM myself, I was overjoyed to see so many new relationships forming on the front lawn of the Newman Center house - many returning students reconnecting after a summer apart and many first-year students gathering with new-found connections.

It was heartwarming to see older students take new students in and offer up tours of the Newman house, their phone numbers, and their advice for tackling the upcoming school year.

Not only did we have a large crowd of beautifully unique students, but we also had a diverse attendance from members of the University Staff. The Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life - Meir Goldstein, the Associate Chaplain for Protestant Life - Joel Harter, and their respective families came to show their support for Catholic Campus Ministry.

With students lingering as tables and chairs were broken down and packed up, the welcoming atmosphere was undeniable. Then, as departure was inevitable, students exchanged contact information and made various plans to meet up in the near future.

Overall, this year's BBQ was a great experience and a fantastic kick-off to a wonderful new school year!