More than 400 first-year students began their Meredith College experience on Move-In Day, August 13, 2011. Boxes, school supplies, armfuls of clothes, pillows, comforters and other college essentials were hauled into Meredith residence halls, beginning early on Saturday morning.

 

Meredith students, staff and faculty were on hand to help freshmen feel welcomed to campus.

 

Sophomores, juniors and seniors who serve on Meredith’s Orientation Crew were on campus to greet the new students and their families as they arrived on campus.  Admissions staff helped with check-in at each residence hall. Resident advisors, student advisors and members of the junior class who participate in the Big Sis/Lil’ Sis program were also among those who greeted students during move-in.

 

“Meredith College does a variety of things to help minimize move-in day stress and to help the new student start building connections with people on campus,” said Director of Residence Life Heidi LeCount. “These efforts are important because they make the first impression, and set the tone for the student’s experience at Meredith College. It helps students and their parents see that we are a caring campus.”

 

Move-In Day brought back memories for President Jo Allen, ’80, the first Meredith alumna to serve as president. She recalled her own feelings as a freshman at Meredith.

 

“I remember how excited I was to start meeting people, and to begin arranging my room,” said Allen, who greeted students, and helped some of them move their belongings into their new homes at Meredith.

 

“It has been great to meet families today,” Allen said. “I’ve seen a lot of alumnae here helping their daughters and granddaughters with move-in, a lot of proud dads, and some little sisters who seem to be imagining themselves here in a year or two.”

 

Members of Meredith’s Alumnae Association who were staffing a refreshments stand said they enjoyed being on campus on this special day.

 

“I always get emotional on Move-In Day,” said Stella Barker, ’03. “Today, students are meeting the friends they will know forever, the ones they will call when they get a new job, get married or start a family. These are friends they’ll have for the rest of their lives.”

 

Other alumnae recalled their own Move-In Day experience, and remember how welcome they felt on campus.

 

“I cried when I arrived on campus as a new student because I was overwhelmed by all the people there to welcome me,” said Kala Stanton, ’10.

 

About the Class of 2015
The Class of 2015 includes students from 19 states and Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico and Myanmar.

 

Forty-three students will be participating in Meredith’s Honors Program. Among the class are Monique Kreisman, Rebecca Shafer, and Alyssa Zsido, the 2011 recipients of the Alumnae Legacy Scholarship, the College’s top academic scholarship, and Mindie Stanford, recipient of the 2011 Presidential Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship.

 

Kreisman, of Dallas, N.C., plans to study history at Meredith, in preparation for a career in law.  Shafer, of Cary, N.C., plans to major in art education and pursue a career as a teacher. Zsido, from Proctor, Vt., plans to explore her academic interests in liberal arts, mathematics, and education. Stanford, of Holly Springs, N.C., plans to enroll in Meredith’s Dual Degree Engineering program.

 

Click here to view a photo gallery of Move-In Day images.

 

In this Issue:

Meredith Welcomes the Class of 2015
President Jo Allen Delivers First State of the College Address
Sustainability Spotlight: Meredith Energy Management Update

New Facilities Maintenance Manager Joins Meredith Staff
Sansepolcro Site Visited by a Wide Range of Meredith Students
Meredith Fund Family Festival Invite
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
News Briefs

 

Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.