Freshmen, Transfers Move In and Start New Student Orientation Program
Wilmington College welcomed its newest students to campus Thursday (Aug. 17) as freshmen and transfer students moved into residence halls and began four days of orientation activities.
(PICTURED) New Freshman Lauren Willman (right) accepts help moving in from Lauren Brickley Thursday morning. He is an agriculture major from Attica.
Upperclassmen will arrive this weekend with fall semester classes starting Monday (Aug. 21).
President Jim Reynolds, along with his wife, Sue, led a contingent of students, faculty and staff who welcomed and directed new students and their families — car-by-car — as they pulled into the Austin-Pickett Hall parking lot to move into the freshman residence halls.
An army of volunteers, including students and staff members, was on hand to assist families with the move-in.
Reynolds presided at a convocation of faculty and staff Wednesday in which he opened the College’s 147th academic year by reminding that, “We’re here to make good things happen for other people.”
“We’re going to work together in cooperation to move this institution forward for the benefit of our students.”
Reynolds has regularly noted that the College literally “changes family trees,” as many students represent the first generation in their family to pursue higher education.
“This is a place that has real meaning. Students have opportunities they’ve never had before,” he said to the faculty and staff in hearkening the College's hallmark for hands-on learning. “Everyday you come to work at Wilmington College, you make a difference in someone’s life.
“All the students we teach and interact with, you’re changing their family tree.”
Included in the New Student Orientation program are ice-breaking activities, learning about campus activities, community service projects, addressing such issues as alcohol use and relationships, and opportunities to learn about local businesses and organizations.