On January 27, 2026, Antonine University (UA) welcomed new and returning students across its three campuses for Welcome Day, a one-day immersive experience marking the beginning of the Spring Semester under the shared theme “Where Magic Begins: Dream, Believe, Become.”
Designed for both new and returning students, Welcome Day set the tone for the Semester ahead by creating spaces for connection, discovery, and renewed motivation. Through a carefully coordinated program unfolding across faculties, students were invited to reconnect with their academic environment and the wider UA community.
Connecting With Faculties and Academic Paths
The day began with “Get to Know Your Faculty,” where students met deans, heads of departments, and faculty members within their respective academic units. This moment offered students the opportunity to ask questions, gain clarity about their programs, and strengthen their sense of academic direction as they step into the Spring Semester.
Discovering Support Services and Campus Life
Throughout the afternoon, campuses came alive with activities highlighting the many resources available to support students’ academic, personal, and professional journeys. Dedicated spaces introduced student services, allowing participants to explore the support systems designed to accompany them throughout their university experience.
Alongside these services, vibrant “Student Life” and “Clubs and Societies” booths brought together new and current students in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, through interactive activities. Music, games, and informal interactions created moments of connection and encouraged students to engage more deeply with campus life.
Shared Moments and Campus Experiences
Welcome Day also offered lighter moments that added to the sense of celebration and belonging. Students met UA’s mascot, Sunbula, captured memories across campus, and enjoyed a variety of food and beverage stations.
A live donut stand by XnDoughs and a coffee station by THINKERS CCC quickly became popular gathering spots, while the NokNok stand added an interactive touch, inviting students to try a virtual reality game and win healthy goodies bags.
Student Voices at the Heart of the Day
One of the most meaningful moments of Welcome Day was “Real Talk,” the student-led live podcast, which offered an open and authentic space for conversation, reflection, and shared experience. Designed as a peer-to-peer exchange, the podcast gave students the opportunity to speak candidly about university life, academic choices, creativity, challenges, and growth; bringing real voices and lived experiences to the heart of the day.
Hosted by Tima Hamdan, a student from the Department of Communication and Journalism (DCJ), the podcast featured a diverse group of students representing a wide range of disciplines across the University. Participants included Perla Medlej, Faculty of Sport Sciences; Eric Moukarzel and Ramzi Bazzi, Antonine School of Business; Joy El Sayegh, Department of Graphic Design; Perla Roukoz, Department of Audiovisual Studies; Elie Khalil, Faculty of Music and Musicology; Colin Sleiman and Rami Hatoum, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; Mike Bsaibes, Department of Dental Laboratory Technology; Malak Attieh, DCJ; and Aquilina Khneifis, Department of Nursing Sciences.
Through honest dialogue and shared perspectives, the discussion highlighted the richness of academic paths at Antonine University and reflected the diversity of student journeys that coexist on campus. Beyond information, the podcast created connection, allowing new and returning students to see themselves in others’ stories and to recognize that their experiences, questions, and aspirations are part of a larger collective journey.
Creative Moments of Reflection
Alongside moments of dialogue and shared experience, Welcome Day also offered students simple yet meaningful opportunities for personal reflection. Through the “Magic Mirror Tiles” activity, students received pocket mirrors that they decorated and personalized with gems, glitter, and small accessories, turning them into small symbols of self-expression and reminding them that magic begins within. The “Magic Book Distribution” invited students to begin the Semester with a blank notebook; a space to write, reflect, plan, and shape their own journey ahead.
Additionally, a photobooth offered students a chance to capture the moment and take home a memory from Welcome Day. These snapshots reflected the energy, connections, and shared experiences that shaped the day.
Setting the Tone for the Spring Semester
More than a welcome back, Welcome Day 2026 served as a moment of renewal, reminding students that each semester is an opportunity to dream with intention, believe in their journey, and actively shape who they are becoming.
By bringing together academic guidance, student services, campus life, and moments of reflection, Welcome Day reaffirmed UA’s commitment to fostering a supportive, engaging, and human-centered educational environment—one where students are encouraged to grow, connect, and move forward with confidence.