Welcome to EspressO-Week!

HEY HANSZEN!

You’ll be hearing that phrase a lot during your next four years at Hanszen College, your new home! Congratulations and welcome to Rice University! We are beyond excited for you to join the wonderful community here at Hanszen. We are your 2026 O-Week Coordinators: Shivi Goyal, Phoebe Schocket, and Jake Melvin also known as Team Pour me Some Joe! We have been meticulously planning a memorable and exhilarating first week at Rice for you, and we cannot wait to meet you all when you arrive on campus!

Our goal is to guide you as you transition into Rice, and support you in building connections within Hanszen, the greater Rice community, and beyond the hedges! During Orientation Week, also known as O-Week, we will be giving you a sneak peek into your next four years while also immersing you into the culture of the best Residential College at Rice! O-Week is all about meeting and making new life-long friends, finding your community, learning how to balance academics and social life at Rice, and so much more! The O-Week book acts as a guide so you can feel prepared coming into O-Week. You will find suggested packing lists, Hanszen dorm layouts, your Advising team, Hanszen fun facts, and other nifty details about your favorite Residential College!

We are ecstatic to welcome you into the vibrant world of Hanszen. The Hanszen Family Heart (HFH) blend is carefully crafted each year by the students to make up the community. As you join Hanszen, you will add your own flavor and energy to make Hanszen the warm and welcoming atmosphere we call home.

This year’s O-Week theme is EspressO-Week! We chose this theme because like a fresh cup of coffee, each of you brings your own unique flavor, energy, and perspective to the community. Whether you're bold like an espresso shot, comfortable like a warm latte, or adventurous like a seasonal drink, you will help make Hanszen vibrant and the welcoming place it is. This reflects the values of the Hanszen Family Heart, including accessibility, diversity, and friendship, while supporting one another as we navigate new experiences together. Just like crafting your own drink, your Rice experience will be uniquely your own and we are excited to see the mark you will leave. We hope to provide you with the support, resources, and community you need this O-Week to thrive at Rice and Hanszen. College is full of exciting opportunities, unexpected twists, and moments that help you grow. There may be times that feel overwhelming, but remember that you don’t have to navigate them alone. Hanszen is here to be your home away from home, your favorite study spot, and your go-to coffee chat when you need it most. We cannot wait to welcome you to your home in August, and in the meantime, flip through the O-Week book, check out the Hanszen website (hanszen.rice.edu), follow us on instagram (@espressoweek), and email us if you have any questions (espressoweek@gmail.com). See y’all soon <3

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." - C.S. Lewis

With a big Hanszen heart and hug,

Team Pour me Some Joe