DSU students enjoyed a variety of games on the quad during OKRAtation’s Carnival Kickback.CLEVELAND, Miss. — The first week at Delta State didn’t just begin with unpacked boxes and campus maps. Thanks to the Statesmen Pioneers, OKRAtation 2025 kicked off with foam cannons, block parties, and a lot of new friendships. For hundreds of incoming students, it wasn’t just orientation — it was their first taste of life at DSU.
Their leadership was on full display during OKRAtation 2025, Delta State’s weeklong orientation held August 16–21 under the theme “Your Journey Begins Here.” From Move-In Day tours to a high-energy Foam Party finale, the Pioneers helped launch the year with excitement, connection, and Statesman pride.
The schedule was packed: a Live & Lit on Leflore block party, the Parent’s Presidential Preview, a lively Union Takeover, the first-ever Statesmen Walk, and a colorful Carnival Kickback on the Quad. For students who couldn’t attend in person, Virtual OKRAtation on Canvas provided key resources.
For Pioneer Ilayda Hacioglu, an international student from Turkey, the goal is simple: belonging. “We create events to make sure that Delta State really feels like a home away from home,” she said. “At Live & Lit, people danced, laughed, and got to know one another—it was amazing.”
Her fellow Pioneer Jyquon Wallace, a junior from Baldwin, added that being part of the group means leading with heart. “We just want to be those first friendly faces new students see,” he said. “OKRAtation gives them a chance to connect—not only with academics, but with the organizations and social groups that make DSU special.”
With the Statesmen Pioneers paving the way, OKRAtation 2025 was more than orientation—it was an epic welcome to life at Delta State.
