
Den Day Invites Students to Explore Life as a Lion
The University of 㽶ƵAPP at Fort Smith will welcome prospective students and their families to Den Day on Wednesday, April 15, offering a half-day program designed to introduce future Lions to academic programs, student services and campus life.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the UAFS campus. Attendees will meet faculty members across a range of majors, explore student support services, and take personalized campus tours. Den Day also will include prize opportunities and scholarship giveaways.
The schedule begins with check-in and a Majors Mixer from 9-10 a.m., followed by a welcome session from 10-10:30 a.m. Academic sessions will run from 10:30-11 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., students and guests can participate in lunch, the Bell Tower Takeover, campus tours, and pop-up activities.
Den Day is geared toward prospective students seeking a closer look at UAFS before enrolling, providing opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and peers while experiencing campus firsthand.
Past attendees say the event plays a significant role in shaping their college decisions.
“Attending Den Day made me feel secure in my decision to attend UAFS,” said Madesyn Buzzard, a junior English, Rhetoric and Writing, and Media Communication student. “I felt like I was being welcomed into my new home for the next big chapter of my life. I was no longer nervous about moving away from home. I was excited to see what the university had in store for me.”
Students frequently cite the campus environment and sense of community as standout features.
“Everyone, including students, staff and faculty, was so welcoming and eager to help me feel comfortable,” Madesyn said, noting she had the opportunity to meet soon-to-be professors who made time to answer her questions about academics and student life at UAFS.
The event informs prospective students as well as builds confidence for both students and their families.
“Den Day is important because it gives students the confidence to take the next steps toward furthering their education,” Madesyn said. “Parents also have the opportunity to meet with faculty and staff so they can feel comfortable about their child being in a new environment.”
That reassurance often extends beyond individual attendees.
“My friends who attended Den Day said they gained reassurance about choosing UAFS as their new home,” Madesyn said. “The staff made their experiences unique and made them feel like they mattered.”
For Madesyn and her family, the event helped ease concerns about the transition to college life.
“I brought my dad and younger sister with me,” she said. “When we arrived on campus, my family and I felt completely confident about my decision. The faculty and staff answered all my dad’s questions and made him comfortable and excited about this new opportunity for me.”
There is still time to register for the event at lions.uafs.edu/register/DenDaySpring26.