From the summer to the start of the fall semester, there is no doubt that Laredo College students enjoy a warm reception. As the summer heat radiated throughout the days, LC staff and faculty eagerly hosted events to welcome new and returning students to their home away from home.
At both the Ft. McIntosh Campus and the South Campus, students enjoyed a wide variety of activities hosted by the Office of Student Life, Recreation and Esports, the Instructional Technology Center, the Center for Learning, Academic and Student Success and more. Students received free LC t-shirts, tie-dyed their own shirts, enjoyed a barbecue with friends before diving into a movie night by the pool, created mementos with state-of-the-art tech and enjoyed delicious treats throughout the week. 
Between all the swag students took home, the memories made with old and new friends was a real prize to witness. Those memories are the essence that truly make Laredo College a place where students belong.
This week also marked the grand opening of the Palomino Café, a convenient stop to enjoy a good cup of coffee, meet up with friends and enjoy a relaxing communal space. With popular Starbucks drinks on hand and tables large enough to host study sessions, tabletop game sessions or heart-to-heart conversations, the Palomino Café is students’ space to unwind and recharge.
The sight was one to behold as droves of students, staff and faculty enjoyed their drinks with cookies baked by the talented student baristas. Between each bite and sip, many documented the moment with selfies while others enjoyed the revamped look that will welcome students throughout the semesters whenever they need a place to unwind.
With Welcome Week coming to an end, it marks a moment to reflect on the journey students begin at LC and the support they will find across both campuses. To some, orientation was their first true glimpse of LC.
For first-time college students like Audrey Benavides and Roberto Coronel, orientation was the prelude to their first chapter at Laredo College. Both spoke of ambitious dreams and how the next few years will serve them well in their future careers.
Both expressed how excited they were to be a Palomino. Benavides said that she hopes to make new friends as she moves forward to her goal of being a registered nurse. Coronel added that he had always been excited to join the Palomino family and after orientation, he was happy to have had a better look at everything the college had to offer.
Both Benavides and Coronel’s drive toward personal and career growth is emblematic of the LC student spirit. Whether it’s their first semester as college students or they return to continue their education as adults, Laredo College is home to everyone interested in fulfilling their unlimited potential.