Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s annual welcoming activities for new freshmen and transfer students are just around the corner, and university leaders say the 11th annual “Dawg Daze” will offer opportunities for new students to connect with others before the semester begins.

The 17 consecutive days of free student events start Aug. 6 with MVNU2MSU, when residence halls open for students. The complete Dawg Daze schedule is available online at www.dawgdaze.msstate.edu.

Among the activities will be the popular Battleship at the Sanderson Center Pool and Service DAWGS Day. Other events include Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity House construction project, Open Mic Night, lip sync battles and various scavenger hunts.

Barbecue and other culinary items will be available at no charge during many of the Dawg Daze events.

Additionally, the Center for Student Activities is encouraging incoming freshmen and transfer students to wear white and participate in a Class of 2020 photo that will be taken on the Famous Maroon Band’s practice field on Hardy Road. Complimentary refreshments will be served, and those who attend will be eligible to receive a free Dawg Daze T-shirt.

MSU Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois said Dawg Daze activities play a significant role in welcoming the newest members of the Bulldog family to their home away from home.

“One of the most important things new students can do at Mississippi State is find ‘fit,’ or the feeling of belonging and being a part of something,” Bourgeois said. “Dawg Daze is a great way for students to find this fit by getting familiar with campus and making connections with other students before classes start.”

Additionally, The Drill pep rally is planned for Aug. 15, and Fall Convocation is set for Aug. 16. 

The Division of Student Affairs sponsors Dawg Daze events, with assistance from, among others, MSU departments of Health Education and Wellness and Recreational Sports, Maroon Volunteer Center, Music Maker Productions, National Residence Hall Honorary, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Panhellenic Council and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Richard E. Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Student Association, as well as the Baptist Student Union.

For additional information, contact Brad Hill at 662-325-2930 or visit facebook.com/MSUDawgDaze and twitter.com/MSU_DawgDaze. Participants are encouraged to include the hashtag #MSUDawgDaze with Dawg Daze-related social media posts.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.