By Jackson Conner, Gaylord College Communications Intern
An acceptance box is the beginning of the journey for each and every student at the University of Oklahoma Since 2020, a personalized welcome box is the beginning of the journey for many students joining the Gaylord Family.
Personalized welcome boxes started in an attempt to offer something special that no other college on campus offers. Gaylord College makes an attempt to build an atmosphere that revolves around family; little personalized touches for incoming students are just the beginning of that atmosphere.
Kathy Sawyer, director of Student Services, said the personalized boxes are a way to make students feel at home before ever stepping in the building during their freshman year.
“Every student gets an acceptance box from OU, but we wanted to find a way to make our students feel at home amidst the setting of a large state university; our solution was to start sending personalized boxes to students who chose to be a part of the Gaylord Family,” Sawyer said.
Not only are custom boxes given to Gaylord students, but oftentimes, these boxes are hand delivered to local students by faculty, staff, current students and even alumni.
Sundee Busby, the current president of JayMac, Gaylord College’s official alumni association, said being a part of the delivery process for incoming freshmen is truly something special.
“Delivering an admission box to a prospective OU and Gaylord student is one of the highlights of being an alum,” Busby said. “To have the opportunity to surprise the student, alongside their family, to let them know about their acceptance to OU, is such a joyous event. Being able to play a small part of that special time in their life that helps them envision the next chapter."
Contents of the boxes include a T-shirt specific to the class of 2027, a notebook, Gaylord swag, stickers and a handwritten note from Dean Ed Kelley.
The personalization of boxes truly means something to incoming students, many saying that something seemingly so small goes a long way in making them feel welcomed.
Julia Roberts, a freshman in the class of 2026, said that everything from the tour process onward just felt welcoming.
“I was dancing … Gaylord was the only one with boxes … a gift and shirt like that, it was awesome,'' Roberts said.
Gaylord College is proud to be the only college on the University of Oklahoma campus to offer personalized welcome boxes – boxes that will be going out to the class of 2027 here in the next few days.
We are so excited to welcome the class of 2027 to the Gaylord College Family! If you have any questions about admissions or Gaylord College’s recruitment efforts, please reach out to Student Services.
