Student leaders shape Camp War Eagle

Each summer, Camp War Eagle (CWE) welcomes thousands of new students into the Auburn Family, and while the events are planned by the First Year Experience office, the day-to-day activities are overseen by seven head orientation counselors. Here we spotlight three of those student leaders who embody the spirit of CWE — sharing their stories, leadership journeys and the impact they’ve made on campus. 

Gracie Streelman 

A junior from Chelsea, Alabama, majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences, Gracie Streelman decided to become an orientation counselor because she participated in a similar program in high school and felt it would be a good way to get plugged in to Auburn. 

With plans to become an audiologist, Streelman attributes her time as a head counselor to her preparation for the tougher moments she will encounter in her career. 

“When you’re helping people who really struggle with hearing by turning on their hearing aids or cochlear implants, it’s emotional, vulnerable and sometimes frustrating for them,” she said. “Moments like that where parents and students have confided in me has helped prepare me to be professional while also showing my heart.” 

Showing her heart is a philosophy Streelman lives by — and one she wishes she could have developed sooner. Like most college students, she wishes she could tell her younger self that “I need to be myself and people are going to love me no matter what.” 

Streelman hopes she can encourage campers to do the same. 

Sareena Lidhar 

Sareena Lidhar is a senior from Milton, Georgia, studying law and justice. She hopes to enroll in law school following her graduation next May, armed with the communication and public speaking skills she gained as an orientation counselor. 

Lidhar applied for the position because of the influence of her own orientation counselor, who encouraged her to get involved and make Auburn feel like home. 

“CWE is really special in my journey because I was a student that came to Auburn and wasn't sure if I was going to stay here longer than a year,” Lidhar said. “I love being able to be that counselor for students that are coming in.” 

Her favorite thing about being a counselor is the love of the Auburn Family. 

“We become such a family here in the summer,” she said. “You live together, you work together, you hang out together, you go to the movies, you have a water balloon fight on the lawn. That’s what it’s all about, that relationship.” 

Lidhar looks forward to continuing to foster relationships with both the new cohort of counselors and campers coming in. 

Nate Foster 

Nate Foster is a senior from Auburn, Alabama, majoring in exercise science and minoring in business. Having lived here his whole life, Foster promised he would get involved on campus to ensure he broke out of his comfort zone 

“I went and toured other schools, but nothing really called me like Auburn did,” he said. “I told myself if I was going to come here, I needed to plug in to the university. I didn’t want my experience to feel like a second high school.” 

Foster saw that being an orientation counselor could provide that connection to the university he was seeking, so he tried it out and fell in love with the program. 

Since he hopes to work in medical sales after graduation, he finds that building connections with students of varied backgrounds and interests has prepared him to connect with clients. 

“Learning how to adapt and answer questions in a way that suits my campers best is something I feel like I will be able to carry into my career,” he said. “It is so important to meet people where they are.” 

This value applies to counselors as well; Foster dispels the notion that counselors need to be outgoing or extremely extroverted. 

“It really just depends on your love for Auburn and your ability to show incoming students that that human touch that we talk about in the creed,” he said. “I would recommend this job to anyone who loves Auburn and wants to become rooted in the university and serve the university. This is a great way to do it.”