Click here to see Welcome Week in action.

Welcome Week at Davenport University’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus means it’s time to celebrate. It is when Panther Prowl and Pantherpalooza take center stage, giving students the chance to show their Panther pride, make memories and kick off the academic year with plenty of fun. 

For first-year students, the excitement begins with the annual Panther Prowl, a five-day, action-packed event designed to introduce them to campus life and other Panthers. 

It kicked off with a welcome from Anthony Anderson, interim president, and a variety of icebreaker activities sure to jump-start new friendships and meaningful connections to last a lifetime. 

The week-long celebration provided just the right mix of fun and school spirit, with an exciting outdoor carnival, bonfire, lunch with faculty members, Prowl Olympics, football tailgate and game, yoga sessions and a fun night in the Student Center. 

Panther Prowl also sent students afloat down a river and took them to the streets of Grand Rapids, where they went on a scavenger hunt and visited Craig’s Cruisers. 

Throughout the five-day event, students are placed in “Packs” led by upperclass students known as pack leaders and pack assistants. These mentors guide students through the Panther Prowl experience, invite them to become involved in extracurricular activities and give advice about college life at Davenport. 

“Panther Prowl is one of the most exciting times of the year for Student Life staff as we welcome new students to Davenport,” said Natalie Wagner, director of Student Life.”I love meeting students at check-in and watching them make invaluable connections throughout the week. I’m also proud of the Prowl team because they do an amazing job creating an environment that encourages students to step out of their comfort zones and introduces them to involvement opportunities to make the most of their experience at DU.” 

After Panther Prowl, the fun continued with Pantherpalooza, an event that brings the entire campus together to enjoy games, giveaways, and connections. It’s also the perfect opportunity for first-year and returning Panthers to explore everything Davenport has to offer: clubs, organizations, campus resources, volunteer opportunities — and even how to register to vote or donate blood.