What Are Ascend Events Like for New Students?
Quick Answer: Ascend events follow a year-long journey from high-energy orientation (APEX) to skills-intensive learning (Basecamp) project-based teamwork (Ridgeline) and leadership reflection (Capstone). Each event helps you grow, build relationships, and apply your learning in real life. Here’s what to expect during your first year.
What Happens at the APEX Event?
APEX is the most energetic event of the year. It’s part orientation, part reunion, and full-on community immersion. As a new student, you’ll feel the buzz from the moment you arrive. There’s cheering, music, spontaneous conversations, and constant movement—it’s a lot to take in.
That said, APEX is designed to help you feel at home. You’ll meet your Ascend Team for the first time in person and start bonding through team-building challenges and awesome community activities. Each day features group sessions organized by the student cabinet, with themes that set the tone for the year. The theme of my first APEX was “Live Deliberately,” and those sessions have had a lasting impression on me.
You should expect to be stretched socially, mentally, and emotionally—but also expect to leave with new friends, a clearer vision, and memories that last.
How Does Basecamp Build Practical Skills and Connection?
Basecamp comes after APEX and offers a more grounded, introspective experience. The energy is calmer, but the impact is just as strong.
Here, the focus shifts from orientation to skill-building. Sessions are practical, relevant, and immediately useful—like how to lead projects, manage your time, or communicate more effectively. You’ll deepen connections with your Ascend Team and interact with other students more intentionally.
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Since you’ve already experienced one event, the nerves fade, and the atmosphere becomes more relaxed. Some of my closest friendships from last year were formed at Basecamp.
Students also pitch and vote on the project ideas that will become the focus of Ridgeline. That buy-in makes the next event even more powerful.
Expect to grow personally and professionally—and come away with real-world tools that stick.
What Is Ridgeline and What Makes It So Challenging?
Ridgeline is the event where everything comes together—and gets tested. You’re placed on a new project team (based on your skills and preferences), and your goal is to complete a real project from scratch in just three days.
Preparation starts weeks in advance, but the real work happens on-site. You’ll plan, build, test, revise, and deliver—often on tight deadlines with limited resources. The pace is intense, but the experience is unforgettable.
Workshop-style sessions run in the mornings, offering practical skills tied to project execution. Your team chooses which ones to attend—or skips them entirely to focus on the work. You’ll also share daily updates with the larger group, which builds both accountability and inspiration.
What surprised me most was how much each team could accomplish in such a short time. It’s the kind of event that shows you what’s possible when everyone leans in.
Expect collaboration, creative problem-solving, and a serious sense of achievement.
Why Is Capstone Such a Powerful Finale?
Capstone is the final event of the year—and it feels like a culmination of everything you have learned. While not technically the last thing you’ll do in Ascend, it brings everything full circle.
The focus here is leadership. Sessions dive into self-awareness, service, and how to lead with character. These conversations build on everything you’ve learned, but they also invite deeper reflection.
By now, you’ve spent nearly a year alongside the same students. The relationships are real, and so is the growth. I didn’t realize how far I’d come until I looked back at Capstone.
This event is quieter, more intimate, and filled with some of the most meaningful moments of the year. It’s where a lot of the emotional weight of the program settles in.
Expect to reflect, reconnect, and walk away with a stronger sense of purpose.
Final Thoughts: Are Ascend Events Worth It?
Absolutely. These four events—APEX, Basecamp, Ridgeline, and Capstone—are the backbone of the Ascend experience. They offer space to grow, fail forward, try new things, and build relationships that last.
I came into Ascend not knowing what to expect. I returned for a second year partially because the events made that big of a difference. They challenged me, encouraged me, and introduced me to some of the best people I know.
If you’re thinking about joining Ascend, here’s my advice: Show up. Bring your full self. Engage fully. The more you invest, the more you’ll get out of it—and trust me, it’s worth every minute.
