Move-In Day welcomes all

The Messiah College Class of 2020 arrived on campus for Move-In Day Aug. 25, with boxes of belongings and hopeful parents.

After check-in, students are directed to their dorms to move in. That’s when the Messiah hospitality really kicks into high gear. Upon arrival, each car is engulfed by a group of student and employee volunteers, who welcome the first-years and carry their things—mini fridges, big-screen televisions and luggage—directly to the designated rooms.

“My favorite part of freshman move-in is how everyone is pitching in to help everyone,” said Erika Hufford ’18. “All these upperclassmen are just super excited to see you and help you move in. It’s fun.”

Arriving from overseas? Messiah volunteers will meet you at the airport. “It was really nice to have someone from Messiah show up and pick me up instead of me trying to get to Messiah,” said Vy Ho ’18, who was traveling from Vietnam.

As evening arrives, the new first-years and their families assemble into Hitchcock for the Candlelight Ceremony, a Messiah tradition. During worship, the candles are lit and the room joins in a chorus of praise. This ceremony will be bookended four years later during a final candlelight gathering at Baccalaureate.

—Maddie Waller ’18