Months of planning, shopping, and packing all culminated in an exciting and emotional move-in day and orientation weekend for 489 new students (439 first-year and 50 transfer students) starting at Lebanon Valley College for the 2022–23 academic year.

As families pulled up to the residence halls, swarms of student-athletes had vehicles unpacked in seconds, hauling mini fridges, suitcases, TVs, and all the other necessities to students’ rooms as grateful family members helped unpack.

Move-in day continued with lunch under the shady trees of the Social Quad followed by the Water Ceremony, at which students add water from home to the Peace Garden Pond, signifying the uniting of the class. Home for our new students includes 16 U.S. states and four international countries (Canada, Latvia, Northern Ireland, and Ukraine).

More than 60 first-year mentors helped assemble the new arrivals for a class photo on the Academic Quad with President James M. MacLaren. At opening convocation in Frederic K. Miller Chapel, President MacLaren formally welcomed the class, and Student Government President Stephen Coleman encouraged them to seek out resources to make the most of their LVC experience.

As students departed convocation, dozens of LVC faculty and staff joined parents and returning students in an honor line, clapping and waving pom-poms and foam fingers before families hugged their students goodbye.

On Friday, students connected with faculty in their major. Mathematical sciences majors constructed their annual straw towers. The first Nursing cohort of 35 students met Dr. Colleen Marshall, chair and associate professor of nursing, and checked out the latest construction of the nursing facility. Faculty teaching the First-year Experience courses introduced themselves and talked about the mentoring they will offer throughout the semester as students adjust to college life and academics.

Orientation continued through Sunday, with residence hall meetings, a movie under the stars, and famous Farm Show milkshakes. Students also spent Saturday morning completing service projects at more than 20 locations, including the Annville Cleona Fire Company, Quittie Creek Nature Park, Fort Indiantown National Cemetery, and Londonderry Village.

A Week of Welcome kicked off Sunday evening with a welcome back social for all students and continues with special activities all week, including the first Flying Dutchmen athletics contests of the season. More than 40 percent of the new students are athletes who are enjoying a new recruiting lounge, classroom meeting spaces, and beautiful locker room facilities.

See a video and Facebook album of move-in day, and find more move-in content on TikTok.