Excited new Highlanders join the community during move-in days

Move-in days are always an exciting time for students and a somewhat anxious experience for parents, particularly those who have students going off to university for the first time.

Last week, about 2,716 Highlanders moved into Radford University residence halls and apartments over the course of three days. Another 83 came to campus throughout the weekend, just days before the fall semester began on Aug. 26 and the kickoff to Radford Welcome Week.

"Our team was excited to welcome new students and their families to campus and welcome back our returning students," said Kendall Pete, director of Housing and Residential Life, while noting the move-in experience as a central focus as students transitioned to campus.

"It's finally here," Madelyn Parks (left) said, taking a brief break with her roommate, Alexis Jones, from moving into their new room in Moffett Hall.

"I always wanted to go to college," Parks said, and she picked Radford because it will prepare her for a career as a physical therapist. Plus, she loves the campus size, and "it's close to home, and I can see my family," she said. Parks and Jones are both from nearby Giles, Virginia.

Parks' father, Robert Parks, expressed his excitement over his daughter's choice of Radford as he assembled a white bookshelf in the hallway outside her room. "It seems like a family here at Radford, and the professors seem really invested in the success of the students," he said.

As she unpacked boxes inside her Muse Hall room, freshman Atticus Rose (center) was "a little nervous and a little excited" - and ready for a new start. She came to Radford from Fairfax County, Virginia, to major in English … or political science "because I'm really interested in that field right now," she explained. But on move-in day, she was mostly concerned about putting everything in place, especially her plants and the cute green dinosaur lamp that was a gift from her mother. "I couldn't leave home without it," Rose said, eyeing her mom across the room.

Move-in is always bittersweet for parents and family. "If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said she's going to do great," said Rose's mother, Aimee Gabel (right). "And then over the weekend, as we were packing her up, I became weepy Mom, thinking this will be the last meal we have together. This will be the last time she sleeps here. But I'm excited for her. She's going spread her wings out and fly."

Jordan Ransome (right) has big plans for his time at Radford and beyond. The freshman from Roanoke, Virginia, has entrepreneurial aspirations and ideas, such as starting his own clothing line. He is already making money cutting hair. He knows studying business at Radford will help him achieve his goals. "I want to learn everything I can here to start my own business," he said, standing beside his friend Salomon Alexis (left), who also hails from Roanoke and plans to study sports management.

"They're good kids," said Ransome's mother, Jaime Poindexter. "They're going to do great, and I feel good about Jordan going to college at Radford. I've had 18 strong years to instill everything into him. I have no worries whatsoever. I know he's going to do great things here."

Room decorating is a passion for Jaden Jackson. "I really love decorating," she said emphatically. Beyond setting up her Muse Hall room just right - finding fitting spots for her favorite pillow and Yeti water bottle - the freshman from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is looking ahead to her first semester at Radford with excitement and little apprehension. "I really want to go skydiving in November, but I'm nervous about my medical terminology class," she said before beaming again with excitement to finally be on the Radford campus.

"It was the first college I toured when I was a junior in high school, and I just fell in love with it," she said. "It reminds me of 'Gilmore Girls.'"

Isaiah Toler (left) knows a "little bit too much about cars," he said with a smile. His father taught him about automobiles and instilled in him a business mentality. Now, Toler is set to major in business management at Radford because "I want to own my own car dealership, and I came to Radford because it has everything I need to go into the career I want," he said, standing beside his friend Ricardo Ocasio, (right) who is also a freshman from Roanoke. Their conversation soon moved from business to the items they brought from home, such as their shoe collection - "there are too many to name right now," said Ocasio, wearing black Crocs - to the things they wished they could have brought to their new home in Moffett Hall. For Ocasio, it was his cats, the smallish Alex and athletic Jason, that he regretted leaving behind.

About 2,716 Highlanders moved into Radford University residence halls and apartments during move-in days.

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