Volunteers brighten students’ rainy campus move-in at MTSU [+VIDEO]

Dylan Curry’s “ready to move in” to his new home at MTSU.

Abbie Coco found moving away from home and moving in on campus “sad, emotional and exciting.”

Austin Norman’s “been excited for a long time” to be a part of the university’s College of Media and Entertainment.

Weathering a two-hour morning rain, traffic congestion and a few other hiccups, students and parents arriving at campus housing Friday, Aug. 19, discovered they had plenty of help with moving in for the fall 2016 academic year .

The two-day MTSU event called “We-Haul” is an annual tradition brings volunteers together with new and returning students and their accompanying family members for help with the heavy lifting associated with dorm life.

“We’ve got volunteers helping to keep traffic and things flowing, assisting families with getting things inside — in the rain — campus housing,” said Jackie Victory, director of MTSU Student Organizations and Service, who began working outside at 7:30 and expected her day to end around 5 p.m.

“Moving’s tough any time,” she added. “Whenever you see help from volunteers, it gives you a sigh of relief.”

Curry, 18, of Memphis, Tennessee, is a May graduate of Southwind High School who plans to be an aerospace professional pilot major. Saying he’s “ready to meet new people and get planted at MTSU,” he joked that the move-in commotion in the lobby of seven-story Corlew Hall “nice. It’s a good experience.”

“The volunteer assistance has been very helpful, helping me get adjusted and I appreciate it,” added Curry, who was accompanied by his mother, Kissten Harris.

Caleb Watts, right, an MTSU freshman, moves into Corlew Hall with assistance from his parents, Cheryl and Martin Watts. (MTSU photos by J. Intintoli)

Coco, 18, a resident of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and spring graduate of the city’s high school, admitted, “It’s emotional for me.”

“I love animals, and it’s sad to leave them, my family and my boyfriend back home. I know good’s going to come from it,” she added. Coco plans to study athletic training and was brought to campus by parents Angela and Brett Coco.

Norman, 18, a freshman from Cleveland, Tennessee, and Walker Valley High School graduate who plans to study multimedia journalism, recalled that “people were grabbing boxes and things,” making the move-in less stressful. Parents Jamie and Bryan Norman accompanied him to campus.

Campus organizations worked alongside members from Belle Aire Baptist Church to help move in and feed the newcomers and their families.

Campus organizers moved a scheduled dinner and movie, “Finding Nemo,” indoors Friday afternoon and planned to do the same for Saturday’s dinner and carnival because of the potential for more rain.

University classes will begin Monday, Aug. 22.

The move-in, dinners and other events and Sunday, Aug. 21, University Convocation signal the start of Week of Welcome activities sponsored by New Student and Family Programs and other campus departments. To learn more, visit http://mtsu.edu/nsfp/welcome.php.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)