Local colleges welcome students back to campus

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — With summer winding down and classes getting ready to start up, students around the metro arrived on campus to begin their college experience.

Tanya and her family are from Circle Pines, Minnesota. They came to help their daughter move into the dorms at Concordia.

“It’s exciting. The energy is really exciting, not sad, but excited for this new chapter.”

And they had some help. Concordia student athletes were on hand to help new students and their families unload and get situated.

“It’s definitely a new feel coming out with the experience. Just seeing some of the freshmen who seem a little scared, being able to come up to them and help them out and put a smile on their face, that’s awesome.”

Jacob says that helping out with this event is always a fun time, even if some of the guys are a little tired.

“Definitely at first some of the guys are just tired, because it’s our first day off of practice, but once we’re around everyone and we see all these smiling faces it’s definitely a lot of fun and it’s definitely a good feeling to help people out.”

NDSU Director of Student Success Programs Angela Seewald-Marquardt says that having returning students help incoming freshmen is important.

“It’s best to hear from their peers what campus life is like, and how to be successful here, so we do that. We have lots of different events that give them an opportunity for connection making.”

She adds that getting students settled extends beyond move-in day, with events scheduled throughout their Welcome Week aimed at getting new students adjusted to campus.

“We really want the students to have a good start. Beginnings are important. If we can help them have a really great start here by making connections, learning the campus and knowing all the resources that are available to them.”

And the support they get from the wider community is a great help in making new students feel comfortable in their new home.

“It’s great for the students to know not just NDSU, but also the community, and for them to feel at home here. We’ve got a community that really embraces the students and NDSU in general.”