It's the start of the welcome week activities for all the students getting back on the Youngstown State University campus.

More than 2,000 students are joining the YSU class of 2021 and they started freshman orientation Monday.

YSU President Jim Tressel led the morning orientation activities.

Fall term classes begin on Wednesday.

And while the freshman get settled in, "Welcome Week" activities continue on campus.

Kickball, pizza, Elvis, IGNITE, puppies and the annual Block Party are among the highlights of Welcome Week as thousands of students return to class.

Events run through Friday, September 2. Visit the Welcome Week webpage for more information.

Hundreds of students are expected to attend the annual Block Party in Kilcawley Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. The event features free food and drinks, cake, karaoke and more than 35 booths with prizes, including gift cards, a room refrigerator, t-shirts and sweatshirts, event tickets and more.

Among the other events:

Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 22 and 23: Ignite. First-year students get to know, faculty, staff and each other in preparation for the year ahead. For more information, contact First Year Student Services at 330-941-2131.

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1 to 3 p.m. Squirt Gun Painting, Cafaro House Green. Students will create their own artistic masterpiece using only paint and a squirt gun.

Wednesday, Aug. 24. First day of classes.

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room. Free food and drinks, party cake, karaoke and more than 35 booths with prizes, including gift cards, a room refrigerator, t-shirts and sweatshirts, event tickets and more.

Thursday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Student Veterans Welcome Cookout at the Veterans Resource Center, East Lawn. For more information, contact Rick Williams at [email protected].

Saturday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Student Leadership Summit, Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room. Guest speakers, interactive leadership sessions, giveaways, and lunch. The summit provides an opportunity for student organization leaders to network and get to know other organization members, all the while learning of the many features that are available to all of our registered organizations. For more information, contact Student Activities at 330-941-3575.

Puppy Palooza in the Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center is part of YSU’s Welcome Week.

Monday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Puppy Palooza, Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center. For more information, visit www.ysu.edu/reccenter or contact Ryan McNicholas at [email protected].

Wednesday, Aug. 31, noon to 3 p.m. SGA’s Ice Cream Extravaganza, Campus Core, Kilcawley Center.

Thursday, Sept. 1, 7:30 pm, Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins football team kicks off the 2016 season vs. Duquense. Students can obtain a complimentary ticket with a valid YSU ID. For more information, contact 330-941-1978

More information is available by following this link.