Naddy Le of Grand Junction, Colorado, was understandably excited Friday morning as she began a new chapter of her life in Aurora.
“I’m the first one to go to college from my family. I found out about this school as my best friend went here and I like the coach for the lacrosse team,” Le said as she and some returning students at Aurora University helped her unpack her car on freshman move-in day at the university.
Aurora University rolled out the welcome mat for its freshmen class Friday morning, beginning at 10 a.m.
For the next four hours, the parking lots and dorms on campus were filled with students and parents, athletes carrying suitcases and pushing carts, and resident assistants directing traffic as members of the Class of 2029 settled into their new home before launching into an afternoon and evening filled with activities.
Debbie Maue, senior vice president for enrollment and marketing at Aurora University, said this year’s freshman class is a big one.
“We have over 800 freshmen expected and this is among the largest we’ve ever had. It’s actually the second largest,” Maue said. “Our enrollment over the past several years has been steady because we offer strong academic programs that prepare students for success in the workplace at an affordable price.”
Geographically, Maue said, the incoming class of freshmen has “30 states represented and three foreign countries.”
“All of the resident directors are involved with the move-in as well as the student-athletes that are already here,” she said. “It’s really an all-campus effort to get the freshmen moved in quickly and smoothly. Fall athletes moved in last week, and returning students move in over the weekend.”
In terms of getting the freshmen settled in on Friday before returning students, Maue said the university scheduled “programming that will go on all day welcoming the new students to campus and they will be meeting with other students, campus life staff and a new student convocation on Friday evening followed by an activity fair on the quad.”
Maue said welcoming hundreds of new faces adds to the energy and buzz on campus.
“Getting the freshmen here – it’s so quiet on campus in the summer,” she said. “It’s just so exciting when you see students on campus because it makes you realize why we’re all here. There’s so much energy among the faculty and staff when the students come back.”
The total enrollment for the university this fall will be about 6,000 including online students, the largest the school has ever seen, officials said.
Le on Friday said she had already spoken with her roommate, who will soon learn about her favorite superhero.
“I have an obsession with Spider-Man. I mean, like really bad,” she said looking at a stuffed replica of the comic book character. “I even have Spider-Man sheets.”
Junior Grace Prucha from Omaha, Nebraska, was helping Le move into the dorm and said while she lives off campus now, “I’m just here to help with move-ins.”
“I love this. I love the energy of today and I’ve been sitting in my house for the past week waiting for the campus to be full and alive,” she said on Friday. “We have a great campus here and everyone is super-friendly.”
Anneliese Tavira of Hampshire said she came to campus as a freshman “because I was recruited for wrestling.”
“They (Aurora University) reached out to me. I want to major in English,” she said. “I am the first student to attend a university in my family. I feel good. I’m ready to do this.”
Izabella Moses from Minnesota was inside a dorm on Friday working as a resident assistant. She said despite only being a sophomore, “I wanted to be a resident assistant because I really want to be a part of the community here.”
“I want to make a point to know everybody’s name and make sure everyone is included,” she said.
Inside the dorm rooms, incoming students like Maddie Zdanek of Frankfort were excited about move-in day.
“I’ll be playing softball and feel like I’m going to be pretty busy here and I’m very excited,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m a little anxious about finding my way and knowing where to go and who to go to, but I feel like here in Aurora people are very good at helping.”
Maddie’s mother Rachel Zdanek said she has four children and that Maddie is her second to go to college.
“My son went first but it hits a nerve as this is my first daughter. I’m going to miss her but this is a great opportunity for her to really grow into being an adult and being independent,” Rachel Zdanek said. “I think this school is well suited for her. It’s got that big feel of a campus and community but not an overwhelming student population.”
Maue acknowledged freshman move-in day is bittersweet for many as parents begin to sever ties with their developing adults.
“It’s just a rite of passage that we all go through as parents. It’s what we’re preparing for as we help them leave the nest,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
