Enthusiastic Campus Opens Arms for Student 'Welcome'

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor; Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer;
Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday; and Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies

While moving bins were wheeled across campus, soccer balls rolled on the Madigan Library lawn as the women’s team practiced Saturday morning (and the men’s squad did likewise in the afternoon). Many student-athletes also lent their feet (and hands) to the move-in effort.

Campus View RAs are eager to welcome residents to their halls. Standing (from left): Olivia J. Hawbecker, of Chambersburg, web and interactive media; Trevor J. Route, of Canton, plastics and polymer engineering technology; Cas D. Henderson, of Hazel Hurst, business administration: banking and finance concentration. In the bin is Andy P. Luzeckyj, of Southampton, automotive technology

A floral frame offers a beautiful backdrop for Jason T. Francis and family. Francis is a pre-physician assistant studies student from Pottstown.

The first point of contact for check-in service: President Davie Jane Gilmour (left) and Suzanne T. Stopper, senior vice president for finance/CFO

This year, residence hall check-in activities moved to the visually appealing Penn’s Inn, in the Bush Campus Center. Heather M. Shuey (at right, holding white papers), director of development and compliance, steers a family in the right direction.

At a refreshment tent, Natascha G. Santaella, a Connections Link, greets families and distributes activities information. Santaella, ’18 baking and pastry arts, is an applied management student from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Equipped with a smile and directional advice, Penn College Police Officer Jeffrey E. Kriner offers assistance along the way.

Showing off their move-in muscles: the U-Hall Crew!

Gorgeous skies greeted families for most of the day (except for a short downpour in the afternoon). Here, movers get busy outside Dauphin Hall.

The Funk family from Bellefonte (right) receives an assist from women’s volleyball coach Bambi A. Hawkins (in pink). Sara M. Funk (third from right) is a pre-physician assistant studies major. Hawkins is also the learning laboratory coordinator for the emergency medical services/paramedic program.

Welding students volunteer their helping hands (from left): Karl W. Machamer, of Lebanon; Matthew G. Johnson, of Newburgh, N.Y.; and Jeremy D. Carlson, of Russell.

Flocking into Dauphin Hall! Tim M. Frey, a diesel technology student from Blandon, finds a welcome new home and move-in support from Leah M. Hesidence (center), of Karns City, applied health studies: radiography concentration, and Emma K. Pingel, of Beach Lake, dental hygiene.

Sun-dappled days … and a new campus phase.

Waiting in line outside Lancaster Hall are helpers Kelsey L. McKenrick, of Gilbertsville, dental hygiene, and Justin L. Stanton, of Newfoundland, construction management. McKenrick is an RA.

Enjoying a respite in the shade (and in the bin) are Resident Assistants Amber L. Way (left) and Rossell Burgos. Way is an occupational therapy assistant student from Port Matilda. Burgos, of Hazleton, majors in architectural technology.

“It didn’t feel right not coming back,” said alumnus and former RA Christopher J. Morrin (left) who was happy to return to campus to help with move-in and visit his brother Joseph M., a graphic design student. The elder Morrin, a three-time Penn College degree holder, is enjoying a satisfying career in building automation with CM3 Building Solutions, based in Fort Washington. The brothers hail from Morrisville.

A long line of capable collaborators for move-in Saturday

Mom grabs a parting selfie …

… and hug from son Troy V. Patcyk, an information technology: network specialist concentration student from Julian.

Clean-up in aisle two (on the way to Delaware Hall)! Lynn E. Doane, a residence halls custodian, handles a casualty of the day: the remnants of a fallen laundry detergent jug (in a lovely shade of Wildcat Blue).

Izzy leads the way! Anthony Ionata III (with thumbs-up), receives move-in assistance from his brother, father and pup, Izzy. Ionata, of Ambler, is majoring in industrial design.

From Spotsylvania to Pennsylvania, Virginia resident Alisha K. Ayers and parents enjoy some much-deserved rest on a campus bench following their long drive and moving logistics. Ayers is a transfer student majoring in dental hygiene.

Blue skies and blue coolers are a welcome sight for these volunteers on this high-humidity day.

Trunks open and bins filled!

Itashna Geerwar, an accounting student from Mauritius, gives a thumbs-up to refreshment.

Delicious service with a smile! The Dining Services team turned out in full force to feed the masses. Among them (from left): Lucina J. Lowmiller, Jane L. Williams, Rochelle A. Splain and James E. Weibley

White dining tents on the Rose Street Commons lawn have become quite the campus tradition … and an oasis on hot summer days.

Bookended by Clinton and Juniata halls, movers move to and fro with purpose.

Enthusiastically running and rolling to help the next move-in “client”

After settling in, some families took the opportunity to explore campus sites beyond the residence halls.

The campus mall bustles with new energy ... and bursts with extreme green as a result of recent rains.

With his team of move-in supporters, Isaac K. Good (center in blue) poses at The Rock, embellished with the signatures of players from the 2018 Little League Baseball World Series teams. Good, of Boiling Springs, is majoring in information assurance and cyber security.

Picking up books and last-minute essentials in The College Store

Sam J. Ulery, a first-year heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology student from Mount Pleasant, drops off his toolbox in the Carl Building Technologies Center – joined by parents Kim and Denny.

Shelley L. Moore, director of career services, and Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities, greeted faculty, staff and others who gathered to cheer first-year students ...

... distributing commemorative pins that were given to participating volunteers, faculty and staff.

"Last to the meeting, first to the gate" was the unofficial opening-night motto for this quartet of freshmen, who, after a busy day of acclimation, inadvertently missed a housing session but arrived in time to head the procession.

Employees and their families line the Rose Street Commons sidewalk to applaud incoming first-year students and transfers – more than 1,500 strong – entering the courtyard for an official Penn College welcome.

Student Government Association President Everett B. Appleby, of Wilkes-Barre, majoring in building science and sustainable design: building construction technology concentration, alludes to the wide-open world of opportunity facing new students. For him, those experiences included his travel to international builders' competition.

Fireworks burst onto the scene, cued to the close of remarks ...

Hypnotist Eric Mina returns to the Rose Street stage ...

... where several dozen students were entranced into embarrassment!

Residents of York and Lancaster halls are oriented to their "home away from home" in a Field House Q&A.

Collegial co-workers on hand to greet students: Michael J Reed, dean of sciences, humanities and visual communications, and Kay E. Dunkleberger, director of disability services.

Student Activities placed a winning bet that afternoon rain would move out by nightfall, allowing for convocation to be comfortably held outdoors.

The president recalls her own college days, and the memories that linger, in predicting extraordinary things for those in the audience.

... and bathe new students in a glowingly fresh start.

Residence Life Coordinator Jamie R. Miller convinces another Monday volunteer – Joseph M. Sepp, of Johnstown, majoring in heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis – that the folks back home will want photographic evidence.

Noelle B. Bloom, assistant director of dining services, greets early risers with a friendly wave of the flag. "Wildcat Welcome" stations were set up at several locations Monday morning, providing students with moral support and snacks as they sprinted to the first classes of the new semester.

Oscar Zamarippa Garcia, of Montgomery, a business management major, poses for a start-up photo outside the Klump Academic Center.

En route to her first class, pre-dental hygiene student Morgan Elizabeth Smith, of Quakertown, pauses to mark the banner day.

A sharp-dressed man, indeed, is Ruan Visser, an engineering design technology student from Austin, Texas.

It's not all felines in Wildcat World! Shiloh, a Siberian husky, took time out of her morning stroll to indulge a photo op with her favorite student: Tyler D. Samtak, of Clifton, N.J., enrolled in building automation technology.