MTSU freshman Deja Campbell appreciated the help of the student volunteers and others Friday afternoon in getting her settled into Corlew Hall on the east side of campus.

“They were nice,” said the nursing major from Memphis, Tennessee. “They helped move (in) very quickly.”

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee talks to Barbara Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson and incoming student Jessica Mason in front of Corlew Hall Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, during the We-Haul student move-in event. (MTSU photos by J. Intintoli)

Campbell, who admittedly “had a lot of stuff,” is among the 2,000-plus MTSU students who began descending on campus Friday, Aug. 21, and will continue to through the weekend to move into campus residence halls for the first time or are returning from their hometowns for a new semester that begins Monday.

“I’m excited and nervous … I just don’t want to get lost,” said Campbell, standing along the sidewalk outside Corlew with only a few plastic bags filled with snacks such as Fruit Loops, bottled water and other goodies left to take up to her room.

In what has become a tradition, these new MTSU students found a host of volunteers — students, faculty, staff and community members — scattered throughout campus ready to direct traffic, provide information and help them carry boxes, furniture or whatever else needed carrying as part of the “We-Haul” Week of Welcome event.

Coordinated by New Student and Family Programs with assistance from the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, We-Haul is a two-day volunteer effort to help students get moved into their dorms and acclimated to campus.

In his 15^th year leading the Blue Raider campus, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee again exchanged the suit he wore a few hours earlier to deliver his annual address to university faculty and staff for a pair of shorts, loafers and a polo shirt to stop by some of the dorms to greet news students and their families and lend a helping hand.

“It’s always a thrill for me to welcome a new group of students to campus,” McPhee said. “I see a lot of bright smiles and minds here, and each year it humbles me that these students and their families have entrusted MTSU with their higher education journeys.”

On the go since 9 a.m. Friday, first-time volunteer Sarah Larson, a junior music business major from New Jersey, was headed for a water break after helping unload everything from microwaves to guitars while assisting at Monohan, Cummings and Corlew halls.

“Everybody seems really appreciative of it,” said Larson, who joined some of her sorority sisters from Zeta Tau Alpha in volunteering. “It was good to get the reaction from people being so gracious about it. … Getting to know the parents and hearing where all they’ve come from, it’s been really nice.”

We-Haul continues Saturday. To see the complete list of Week of Welcome activities, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/nsfp/welcome.php.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)

Student Arielle Harris, center, moves into Corlew Hall Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, with the help of a group of friends during the We-Haul student move-in event.

From left to right, Kami Hopper helps her sister, MTSU student Reese Hopper, move into Corlew Hall with their mother, Bonnie Autry, during the We-Haul student move-in event Friday, Aug. 21, 2015.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee helps parent Ginger Joslin move her daughter, Karli, into Corlew Hall Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, during the We-Haul student move-in event.