WHY PANTHER CAMP MATTERS
More Than Orientation.
This is Where You Become a Panther.
Panther Camp is not simply a welcome event. It is the beginning of your transformation – the moment you step onto The Hill and begin building the relationships, knowledge, and confidence that will carry you through your entire college journey.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A Week Designed for Your Success
Every moment of Panther Camp is intentionally crafted to prepare you for the academic, social, and personal demands of university life. Here is what awaits you.
YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK
Five Days. One Transformation.
Every day of Panther Camp is intentionally designed to build upon the last — moving you from arrival to belonging, from uncertainty to confidence, from new student to Panther.
Monday — Arrival & Welcome
Move into your residence hall, meet your PAWS Mentor, connect with your floor community, and take your first steps onto The Hill as an official Panther. The energy begins here.
Tuesday — Academic Preparation
Success workshops, academic sessions, campus exploration, and your first deep dive into the tools, strategies, and expectations that will guide your academic journey.
Wednesday — Leadership & Community
Leadership development activities, community building experiences, and an introduction to the traditions that have united Panthers for 150 years.
Thursday — Spirit & Challenge
School spirit sessions, the legendary Building Challenge, and preparation for the ceremony that will mark your official welcome into the Panther family.
Friday — Celebration & Ceremony
The New Student Lighting & Pinning Ceremony — your official Rite of Passage into the Prairie View A&M University family. You arrived as a student. You leave as a Panther.
YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM
Meet your PAWS Mentor
Panthers Advocating for Wellness and Success (PAWS) — Your PAWS Mentor is one of the most important connections you will make during your first year at Prairie View A&M University. They are trained student leaders who serve as guides, advocates, and resources as you transition to college life.
During Panther Camp, your mentor will lead activities, answer questions, introduce campus traditions, and connect you with fellow students. Their support continues throughout your entire first year.
“Your PAWS Mentor has been where you are. They know what it takes to succeed and are committed to helping you make the most of your Prairie View experience.”
— Office of First- & Second-Year Experience
FIRST-YEAR LEADERS
Freshman Engagement Ambassadors
Freshman Engagement Ambassadors are first-year student leaders who promote involvement, school spirit, and engagement while helping create a connected and welcoming Panther community.
They serve as ambassadors for the incoming class — peer connectors, community builders, and future campus leaders who help encourage participation in campus programs, traditions, and events. Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and their leadership sets the tone for the entire freshman class.
LIFE ON THE HILL
Where Friendships Are Forged & Legacies Begin
Prairie View A&M University is more than a campus — it is a community. From the moment you arrive, you become part of a family that celebrates together, supports one another, and builds traditions that last a lifetime.
PANTHER CAMP TRADITION
The Building Challenge
One of Panther Camp’s most anticipated traditions and a highlight of the week. This spirited competition brings residence halls and student groups together in a friendly battle for Panther pride.
Throughout the week, students learn cheers, chants, spirit calls, traditions, and the iconic PV Shuffle before showcasing their enthusiasm and teamwork during the challenge. Led by PAWS Mentors and student leaders, each group competes to demonstrate the strongest school spirit, unity, and knowledge of PVAMU culture.
The Building Challenge creates lasting memories, strengthens friendships, and helps students discover what it truly means to be a Panther. It is the moment when school spirit transforms from something you observe into something you feel in your bones.
THE EMOTIONAL CLIMAX OF PANTHER CAMP
New Student Lighting & Pinning Ceremony
Your Official Rite of Passage Into the Panther Family
August 21, 2026 | 10 AM
William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (Baby Dome)
Open to Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, and Friends of the University
The New Student Lighting & Pinning Ceremony serves as the official Rite of Passage into the Prairie View A&M University family. As part of this cherished tradition, members of the incoming class participate in a symbolic ceremony that celebrates new beginnings, academic excellence, leadership, and personal growth.
Surrounded by fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters, freshmen make a commitment to uphold the values and traditions of PVAMU. During the ceremony, students are welcomed into the Panther family and receive their Panther pin — symbolizing their connection to a proud legacy of achievement, service, and excellence.
For many students, this is one of the most meaningful moments of their first year — the point at which they truly begin to see themselves as Panthers.
Lighting of Candles
A symbolic illumination representing knowledge and new beginnings
Receiving the Pin
Your Panther pin connects you to a legacy of excellence.
Official Welcome
Formally welcomed by faculty, staff, and university leadership
Panther Journey Begins
The moment you become part of something greater than yourself
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
150 Years of Excellence
The Class of 2030 enters Prairie View A&M University during one of the most historic moments in the University’s 150-year legacy. You are not simply joining a university — you are becoming part of a sesquicentennial celebration of excellence, innovation, and service
Legacy
Built on 150 years of academic achievement and community impact
Tradition
Honoring the customs and values that define the Panther experience
Innovation
Leading the future through research, technology, and creative excellence
Service
Producing leaders who serve their communities with purpose and distinction
FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES
Welcome to the Panther Family
When your student joins Prairie View A&M University, your entire family becomes part of the Panther community. We understand that this transition is significant for everyone, and we want you to feel confident that your student is supported, connected, and prepared for success.
How Panther Camp Helps Your Student:
Parents are welcome to attend the New Student Lighting & Pinning Ceremony on August 21, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. in the William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building.