Cumorah Academy recently welcomed students from Brigham Young University Idaho (BYU-I) for an afternoon filled with conversation, activities, and new connections. The visit gave students from both communities an opportunity to meet new people, share experiences, and expand their networks.
The BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy spent around two hours on campus, but the short visit created plenty of opportunities for meaningful conversations and fun moments.
Welcoming BYU-I Students to Cumorah Academy
The day began with a warm welcome as Cumorah Academy students and staff greeted the visiting group from BYU-I. Everyone gathered for lunch, giving students a relaxed setting to introduce themselves and start conversations.
For many students, meeting people from another university created an exciting opportunity to learn about different experiences and interests.
After lunch, the group moved to the conference room for a Q&A session. Several Cumorah Academy interns and staff members joined the conversation and answered questions about campus life, student experiences, and the Cumorah Academy program.
The students could ask whatever they wanted, which created an open and engaging conversation.
Questions, Conversations, and New Connections
The Q&A gave the visiting students a chance to learn more about Cumorah Academy directly from people who experience campus life every day.
Interns and staff shared their perspectives while answering questions from the BYU-I group. These conversations helped the visitors understand what makes the Cumorah experience unique.
For the BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy, the Q&A created a simple way to learn about the people, activities, and opportunities that shape student life.
After the Q&A, the group divided into two smaller groups for interactive activities.
Human Bingo Helps Students Find Common Ground
One group participated in Human Bingo, an activity designed to help people mingle and discover shared interests and experiences.
Each student received a bingo-style sheet with different attributes or categories. They then walked around campus, talked with other students, and looked for people who matched the different categories.
The activity encouraged everyone to start conversations with people they had just met. Instead of simply standing together in a large group, students moved around and interacted with several different people.
For Vitor Gabriel from Brazil, Human Bingo became one of the highlights of the visit.
“When I talked to the students, I went into the activities they had, and when I went to do the Human Bingo, I liked it because I could see that there are a lot of things in common between the students and us,” he explained.
His experience continued beyond the Cumorah campus. The next day, Vitor traveled to Prague and met some of the BYU-I students again.
“It was so nice because we were able to connect again, and they were so nice and talked with us,” he added.
The experience showed how a short campus visit can lead to friendships and connections that continue beyond the original event.
Speed Friendship Creates Quick Conversations
While one group participated in Human Bingo, the other group participated in a speed-friendship activity.
Speed friendship gives participants a chance to have short, one-on-one conversations. After a few minutes, students switch partners and begin another conversation with someone new.
The format creates an energetic environment where students can quickly learn about several people. It also gives quieter students a simple way to join the conversation without needing to approach a large group.
The BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy used the activity to share stories, discover interests, and meet Cumorah students in a relaxed environment.
Students Share Goals and Experiences
Dieter Talledo from Peru also played an important role during the visit. He helped plan the activity and welcomed the BYU-I students to campus.
“It was so cool receiving the BYUI students because I was part of planning the activity for them,” Dieter shared. “I had the opportunity to receive them and guide them around.”
For Dieter, the visit offered more than a chance to organize an activity. It gave him an opportunity to learn about the goals and skills of the visiting students.
“It was fun to know their goals and skills and how they are similar to us, looking for work and new opportunities in life,” he said.
The BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy discovered shared ambitions with students from different countries and backgrounds.
These shared goals helped create a sense of connection between the two groups. Students could talk about education, careers, skills, opportunities, and their plans for the future.
A Short Visit With a Lasting Impact
Although the BYU-I group stayed for only about two hours, Cumorah Academy wanted to make every moment count.
The activities kept the students engaged while creating plenty of opportunities for conversation. Lunch allowed everyone to meet casually, the Q&A answered questions about Cumorah, and the interactive activities helped students connect personally.
Before the BYU-I students left, everyone gathered for a group photo. Students from Cumorah Academy and BYU-I stood together, capturing a moment that represented the connections they had built throughout the afternoon.
The BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy brought their own experiences, interests, and goals to campus, while Cumorah students welcomed them and shared their own stories.
Come Build Your Own Connections at Cumorah Academy
At Cumorah Academy, students have opportunities to meet people from around the world, develop new skills, participate in meaningful activities, and build relationships that can continue long after their time on campus.
The BYU-I students at Cumorah Academy experienced just one afternoon of what connection and community can look like at Cumorah.
Are you eager to make meaningful connections, develop your potential, and meet students from around the world? Come to Cumorah Academy and become part of a community focused on growth, leadership, and purpose.
