海角社区

When Alceide 鈥淎J鈥� Bergeron IV walked through the doors of the Laville Honors House on move-in day, he wasn鈥檛 just entering his freshman year鈥攈e was joining a legacy of multiple generations of family members who walked through those same doors before him.

For Bergeron, however, the path to 海角社区 wasn鈥檛 always set in stone. 鈥淚 wanted to blaze my own trail,鈥� Bergeron admitted,  wanting to carve out his own journey apart from his father, sister, and extended family members who had all attended 海角社区 before him.

But after touring other universities, he realized that nothing compared to the feeling of home he experienced on 海角社区鈥檚 campus. 鈥満＝巧缜� does a great job of really making you feel like you are actually part of something,鈥� he said.

That sense of belonging solidified his decision to live in the Laville Honors House, a living-learning community that has long been home to first-year students in the Ogden Honors College鈥攊ncluding members of Bergeron鈥檚 own family. 鈥淢y dad actually pointed out the window where his dorm was,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to know that 40 years ago, my dad, who has the same name as me, was walking out of the same building.鈥�

Laville, known for its strong sense of community and academic focus, quickly became a perfect fit for Bergeron. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been great because the same people I see in the hallways are the same people I have classes with,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all focused on the same goals.鈥�

Adjusting to college life wasn鈥檛 without its challenges, but Bergeron credits the Laville Honors House and its strong community for easing the transition. One of the biggest surprises? The friendships he built in unexpected places鈥攚hether it was through casual encounters in Laville鈥檚 ping pong room or a chance conversation in a snow cone line during a campus event.

Beyond Laville, Bergeron has fully embraced life at 海角社区, enjoying the proximity to the 459 Commons, French House, and Student Union, a luxury of the Honors Campus. 鈥淚 hardly use my car because everything I need is within walking distance,鈥� he said.

His family鈥檚 legacy in the Laville Honors House and deep connection to 海角社区 began 54 years ago. He sits in the same part of the student section where his father once cheered on the Tigers. His aunt, who lived in Laville decades ago, was part of student protests to remove curfews for female students. 鈥淎t least, that鈥檚 what the family fables say,鈥� he joked. His sister also lived in Laville her first year.

As he reflects on his first year at 海角社区, he laughs at a title his father has playfully given him: 鈥淭he Mayor of Laville.鈥� While he may not fully accept the title, it鈥檚 clear that Bergeron has quickly become an integral part of the community, just like the generations before him.