For new students, coming to a big university like Iowa State can be a scary and confusing experience. On Thursday, more than 4,100 new freshmen and transfer students attended Destination Iowa State, an event that helps incoming students feel more comfortable on a new campus and make friends, and introduces them to ISU traditions.

Kellen Vance, freshman in open option pre-business, was one of many students nervous about attending a university for the first time.

“It’s a little bit scary coming to a new school, because I came from a school with a graduating class of about 75, and it’s a big change from a small campus to something like this,” Vance said. “It’s exciting; it’s scary. I got some other friends that came from my school, so I’m going to start with the people I know and then branch off from there.”

Students started the night outside the Scheman Building and Hilton Coliseum, where ISU Dining provided music and food. Campus organizations, student clubs and representatives from each college showed new students what the ISU community offers.

Ian Ringgenberg , graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies and graduate assistant with the admissions office, said this allows freshmen and incoming students to know what resources are available on campus and helps them feel as though they are part of something much bigger.

Students were divided into different groups depending on the color of shirt they were wearing. The different shirt colors represented the areas on campus in which the students will live.

Kat Mosiman, Destination Iowa State volunteer and junior in music, said separating students into groups based on their areas of residence helps familiarize students with one another, and said it worked for her as a freshman.

“The point of the teams is to hopefully get [students] that first group of friends on campus. They divide them up, so they have 10 to 12 people they know right away,” Mosiman said. “I know when I went to Destination Iowa State, my group of 10 that I had that weekend are still some of my great friends today.”

Later that evening, students went to Hilton Coliseum, where they learned “The Iowa State Fight Song” and heard stories about the university and speeches from ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, ISU Alumni Association president Jeff Johnson and Mayor Ann Campbell, among others.

Throughout all the speeches and activities, Destination Iowa State helped get new students excited about their first semester.

“I just want to get good grades and experience the diversity that a big university like this can offer,” said Quinn Kinman, freshman in psychology. “The thing I like most about this event is all the people you can meet and all the clubs they have represented and stuff.”