³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ to Host 2025 Cougar Trax
Date:08/13/2025
³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ (³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ) will host Cougar Trax, its annual kickoff to students' academic careers, on Thursday, August 21.
First-year students will be welcomed to Saint Xavier with New Student Induction, a
ceremony that symbolizes their membership in the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ community. The University president,
Keith Elder, Ph.D., will lead the campus pledge along with faculty and staff who will
commit to supporting students along their journeys. Students will walk through ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's
historic 49th Street Gateway Arch, symbolic of both the institution's longstanding
history and its future success.
Before the ceremony, students will have a series of educational sessions critical
to success in their first year. They'll also meet peers and learn about the resources
at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ that provide support and knowledge to new students and assist them with their
passage from high school to college.
Students will also participate in First-Year Fest, take a class photo, learn about
the University's mission and heritage, and receive a Class of 2029 ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ T-shirt.
"The Cougar Trax experience is designed to help students feel a sense of belonging,
purpose, and excitement as they begin their academic journeys and become an important
part of our University community. This event marks the beginning of a transformative
chapter, featuring sessions critical to first-year success, opportunities for fun and social
connection, and the New Student Induction. During the New Student Induction ceremony,
students are presented with a Saint Xavier Medallion to symbolize their membership
in the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ community and the official start of their academic careers," said Blanca Correa, director of Student Activities.