SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Marywood University welcomed first-year and transfer students to campus Wednesday for New Student Move-In Day, marking the start of the university’s Extended Student Orientation.
First-year students assigned to Loughran Hall moved in throughout the day, with families, staff and student volunteers helping unload vehicles and carry belongings into the residence hall. Transfer students and first-year students living elsewhere on campus checked in at Madonna Hall.
Marywood President Lisa Lori said the university was projecting more than 500 first-year students this year, making it the second-largest incoming class in university history behind last year’s record-setting class.
Lori said Move-In Day was the beginning of several days of activities designed to welcome new students and help them get familiar with the Marywood community.
“Today, we’re doing our traditional Arch Walk, where students become official Pacers when they walk with me through the arch. Tonight, we have a barbecue. Tomorrow, there are events throughout the day, ending with a glow party and dancing on the Memorial Garden lawn. Saturday is full of events as well, and they’re going to Dorney Park on Sunday,” said Lori.
Lori added that the university has seen students come from across the country, including several families who traveled all the way from California to attend Marywood. Among them is Eleni Petropoulos-Wendt, a biology student from San Diego.
Petropoulos-Wendt said faith played an important role in her college search, and she was drawn to Marywood’s Catholic identity as well as the chance to experience a different environment with Pennsylvania’s changing seasons.
“I did my research on the school and really enjoyed it. I came back for a tour and met a couple of the professors. I liked the way they taught and how caring they were and how much they wanted to help students. The small class size was also a big thing for me because I learn better that way. I met a lot of the students as well, and they were very nice,” said Petropoulos-Wendt.
Petropoulos-Wendt plans to study biology with an interest in a pre-professional path. She said the major can support students pursuing medical, dental and veterinary programs, and she hopes to eventually attend veterinary school.
Returning students are scheduled to move into their assigned residence halls Saturday, Aug. 22, as Marywood continues welcoming students back for the fall semester.