Student Mike Gillette takes charge during semester kick-off event
Monday, August 20, 2012
Written by: Bill Adams
Image Gallery

You're away from home, maybe for the first time, maybe in a totally different country. You don't know your way around—literally and figuratively. You're surrounded by some 4,500 others who, like you, swing between excited, nervous, and a little clueless.

Thank goodness for Mike Gillette. He's there to help.

Gillette was among the cadre of seasoned Hawkeyes who served as student leaders during On Iowa!, a pre-semester program for new undergraduates that introduces students to campus traditions, success strategies, and each other.

"I just wanted to share my experience," Gillette says. "I had an average year as a freshman, but it totally turned around after my first year. I wanted to help my students get a better-than-average start and, above all, never get discouraged."

This was Gillette's second year in the role. The Ottawa, Ill., native will graduate this year with a finance degree from the Tippie College of Business.

Click the photos below to follow Gillette and his group as they navigate On Iowa! events.

Gallery
Two men talk to each other in a classroom.
A man in a black t-shirt surrounded by people in yellow t-shirts in a classroom.
Two men facing off in a paper/rock/scissors game.
A man in a black-tshirt leading a group of people in yellow t-shirts down a sidewalk.
A lecture hall full of students in yellow t-shirts.
Mascot in costume with a man both pointing at the camera on a football field.
A straight line of people in black t-shirts on a football field.
A man taking photos with a point & shoot camera on a football field.
A man in a black t-shirt posing with a group of women cheerleaders.
A man in a black t-shirt cheering with a group of people in yellow t-shirts in a football stadium.