New students get a Taste of Troy

As students finished their first week of classes for the fall 2025 semester on Friday, the Welcome Week Committee partnered with Downtown Troy to welcome new students to their new home with the Taste of Troy band party and browse session. 

Tilley Dromboski photo

Students smile for a photo while enjoying a taste of Troy.

The event was held inside of the Idea Bank and featured booths set up by various local Troy businesses, shops and restaurants for everyone to explore. Outside the Idea Bank, snow cones and cornhole were accompanied by live music.  

Welcome Week Director Javius Pruitt, a junior early childhood education major from Birmingham, Alabama, said the goal of the event was to benefit both the students and the businesses themselves. 

“It brings out traction to our downtown here in Troy,” Pruitt said. “I’m really hoping that the kids were able to come out here to get very acclimated with the downtown so that the new incoming students and interaction with the community can merge together.” 

Some of the businesses’ setups included free food or product samples to draw students into their booths as well as introduce their new customer base to their business. 

“One of the important things for me is to always allow people to see who we really are,” said David Smith, owner of Trojan Threads Apparel Co. “[Trojan Threads] is one block off campus, so a lot of people just pass us, but having this event is very critical in just getting that exposure for our small business.” 

The city of Troy is sometimes criticized for being bare or boring, without many off-campus opportunities to go out and have fun. While other college towns might have a wider variety of activities, some of the new students credit their love for the city to its atmosphere and community, the very aspects of the town that Taste of Troy attempted to emphasize. 

“I love it here,” said Olivia Cannon, a freshman psychology major from Ariton, Alabama. “I think all of the stores are pretty cute here, and everybody has been really nice and friendly that I’ve talked to.” 

Avery Foster, a freshman, biomedical science major from Albertville, Alabama, had a similar view of the city. 

“I really like the community feel of Troy and how all of the students are really spirited,” Foster said. “They love being here, and it makes me want to be here.”