Moving day: Mount St. Mary's welcomes first-year students
Aug. 18—First-year student Rebecca Weir unfolded a giant fluffy blanket, then a second one, and laid them on her dorm room bed.
Her dad cracked a joke about being used to warmer weather in Florida.
The family traveled from the Sunshine State so Weir could attend Mount St. Mary's University. Weir is one of approximately 485 first-year students, and Thursday was move-in day.
Classes start on Monday.
The new students are from 26 states and 39 countries. About 32% speak two or more languages, according to Donna Klinger, executive director of communications for the Mount.
Dozens of student athletes, Reserve Officers' Training Corps members, staff and the orientation team swarmed outside Sheridan Hall just after 8 a.m. As soon as vehicles parked, helpers rushed to pop trunks and unload luggage.
Navy blue-clad rugby players crowded around a black pickup truck. One athlete hefted a mini fridge from the truck bed and carried it inside.
Weir is rooming with fellow track and field athlete Tangi Smith, from Montrose, Pennsylvania. They are both majoring in health sciences.
The two met through social media and decided to room together. As they unpacked, they laughed about each bringing a stuffed animal from home to college.
Down the hall, resident assistants Ledell Patcha and Mo Pham chatted in another room. They recommended new students get to know their professors by attending office hours. Being at a smaller school, Pham said, students can really connect with their teachers.
"I know it can be pretty intimidating," Patcha said, but, "It's not scary at all."
In the hallway, a big paper lemon and leaves adorned a bulletin board. It said, "Welcome to a fresh start."
On another floor, a white board announced the time and place for a hall meeting that afternoon. Flyers stuck to a stairwell door advertised a volleyball tournament and laundry etiquette meeting. Music bumped in the halls.
Outside, senior Jalana Garcia waited with open arms for the next drop-off. She is a member of ROTC and on the rugby team. She is from Guam ,but resides in Harford County when she is not at school.
"It's nice to see that different clubs and organizations come together," Garcia said of move-in day.
A few years ago, she was a first-year student moving into Sheridan Hall.
"College is definitely the time to discover who you are," Garcia said.
A chipper voice greeted families as they waited in their vehicles to unload.
"Hi, how are you?" senior student Gabrielle Harrigan chimed.
Her role?
"Traffic control," she said with a laugh.
Harrigan said she joined the orientation team because she wanted to interact with new students.
Up on the fourth floor of Sheridan Hall, the newest members of the lacrosse team settled into their rooms. Sean Connelly and his family came from Kent Island. His sister Molly attends the Mount, too.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know all the guys on the team," he said, many of whom helped him move into the dorm.
His mother, Selena, was feeling a bit sad on move-in day. Sean is the youngest of three children.
"I'm gonna miss him," she said.
Sean's teammate Klaus Anger came all the way from Lake Forest, Illinois. His family drove 11 hours the day before, then stayed in a local hotel.
"I'm excited for him," his mother, Maureen, said as she slid sheets onto his bed. "I think it's a great school."
Though Klaus will be far from home, he has a familiar face on the team and across the hall. Jake Coldwell, another first year, hails from the same high school. They played lacrosse together and will continue to do so, but now on the Division I level.
"It's definitely pretty nice to have a kid from my high school," Klaus said.
Jake's father, Eric, made the rounds, greeting other parents. Back in his son's room, Eric watched him unpack.
"He's pretty independent," Eric said. "He'll be fine."
Follow Mary Grace Keller on Twitter: @MaryGraceKeller
