First-year students filled up their dorm rooms ahead of classes starting next week.

DUNMORE, Pa. — The rumble of luggage carts echoed across Marywood University campus on Wednesday, as first-year students moved into their dorms ahead of the new school year.

“So last year we had a record, a record number of incoming freshmen. This year is projected to be our second largest in the history of the university. So we’re super excited. Not only that, but their students are now coming from all over the country,” said Marywood University President Lisa Lori.



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Incoming first-year student Eleni Petropoulos is leaving San Diego, California, for a campus that stretches across Scranton and Dunmore.

“I’m nervous, but I’m also excited because it’s a new journey for me,” said Eleni.

Vicki Petropoulos joined her daughter for the move east. Although it’s a few thousand miles from home, she knows the decision to attend Marywood was well researched.

“And I’m so comfortable with the school,” said Vicki. “We visited the school a few times prior to today, and we were just struck by the atmosphere, the culture, the friendliness of people.”

As students get ready for classes, the university is preparing to open a new restaurant on campus that will offer a new atmosphere for students and the community.

“They could use their Pacer points if they don’t want to eat in the cafeteria,” said Lori. “They can come and eat in the restaurant. It is a full-blown restaurant, again, open to the public with a whole, a totally separate menu and a real-world restaurant experience.”

While there’s still some heavy lifting left to do at the restaurant and outside dorm rooms, fourth-year student Maurice Spann says carrying fridges should be the hardest part of the upcoming school year.

“It’s organized chaos. That’s the best way to put it,” said Spann. “It definitely alleviates all their fears and everything and getting them as prepared as possible.”

The first day of classes is this Monday, and the new restaurant at Marywood University is expected to open in September.