Ozzy-Palooza: Welcome to Campus is a celebration of the beginning of the school year, complete with live music, food, raffles and the introduction of the new Ozzy the Ocelot mascot.
Students have a new way to mark the beginning of the new school year with the first-ever back-to-school party taking place the first week of classes.
A new event, Ozzy-Palooza: Welcome to Campus, will take place from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 on the Green between the Forum, Liberal Arts and Bradner Library. There, festivities will help kick off the new year, which will include live music, food trucks and yard games for visitors to enjoy.
An event put on by several campus departments, Ozzy-Palooza party will also feature informational tables for several campus groups such as the fitness center, Learning Support Services, Student Activities and more. The Schoolcraft College Foundation will also raffle off a MacBook Air, an iPad and a set of AirPods to students to help them begin their studies.
Free T-shirts will also be given out with the option for students to tie-dye them, adding a groovy feel to help begin the new school year.
Designed to welcome students for a new school year, Ozzy-Palooza will also introduce students to the event’s namesake, Ozzy. Schoolcraft College’s mascot first revealed in 2022, Ozzy the friendly ocelot will greet students and showcase a new look to kick off the year. Dr. Glenn Cerny, Schoolcraft College’s president, will also address students as they begin their studies for the upcoming year.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming students back to campus this fall, and this party is a great new way to mark the occasion,” said Melissa Schultz, Chief Student Enrollment Officer. “We can’t wait for students to return and hope they come out and enjoy this new kickoff event.”
Students are invited to come to the Green anytime during the event and are encouraged to stay and enjoy music from Double Play, a duo melding the styles of American pop, rock and country. A local group with decades of experience, they’ve played venues such as the Livonia Spree, the Howell Melon Festival, the Greektown Casino rooftop series in Detroit and more. Students are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Several food trucks will also set up shop along the Green, ready to serve up their culinary creations with their wares. So come, play and enjoy the kickoff to a new school year with your fellow Ocelots!