Georgia Southern University students James Diffenderfer, of Peachtree City, and Jessica Fortner, of Fayetteville, were selected as members of Southern’s Orientation Advisement and Registration (SOAR) team.

Diffenderfer and Fortner are two of 24 student leaders selected to represent Georgia Southern University during the summer 2008 orientation sessions.

Selected through an application process, the students are involved in weeks of intensive training where they meet with campus representatives and leadership learning about Georgia Southern University. The goal is to prepare them to answer questions from new students and parents.

SOAR leaders will welcome new students and their parents to the university and provide them with information on campus life. They will lead small group discussions informing new students about Georgia Southern and facilitate the development of interpersonal relationships among new freshmen and transfer students. Additionally, they assist in academic advisement and registration for the fall semester.

These leaders will play a vital role in ensuring high school students have a smooth transition to college.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers more than 120 degree programs serving nearly 17,000 students. Through eight colleges, the university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The university, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit www.georgiasouthern.edu for more info.