New students move into dorms during USD Move-in Day 2016
8: 33 a.m.
As a car pulled into the parking lot of North Complex Friday morning a group of college students in red shirts surrounded the vehicle. Today was USD Move-in Day.
One of the first students to move in was first-year Ashley Nolz from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who pulled into the lot around 7:15 a.m.
“I don’t know, my parents wanted to get here early,” Nolz said.
Nolz, who’s majoring in criminal justice, said she chose to attend USD for multiple reasons.
“My best friend’s sister goes here and it wasn’t too far from home,” she said. “I’m super excited and I don’t know what to expect — it’s new and exciting.”
8:45 a.m.
There were plenty of helping hands outside North Complex this morning as volunteers from Greek life and the Reserved Officer Training Corps came together for the benefit of first-year students.
Medical biology major Jessica Schnetzer came to USD with a mind at ease thanks to the volunteers.
“That was cool, there’s a lot of people here to help me so it was pretty smooth,” said Jessica Schnetzer. “I’m excited to move in.”
Schnetzer’s mother, Sylvia, was just as relieved to have some help with the big move to Vermillion.
“It’s really smooth, nice signage out and good directions as to what to do,” said Sylvia Schnetzer. “The volunteers were utterly amazing. It would have taken us forever to move all this stuff upstairs if it wasn’t for the volunteers. That’s the neatest thing they do.”
Parents were eager to ease the transition from home life to university life, and volunteerism made that run more smoothly. Today was just one small step towards that change.
“She has been ready to come for a long time now, so this is a big day for her,” said Sylvia Schnetzer.
Jessica was drawn to USD from Sioux Falls because of the medical program on campus.
“I want to be pre-med and I felt that it was a good choice to be here because we have a medical school here,” said Jessica Schnetzer.
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10:00 a.m.
Moving to a new place can be a stressful time for a student, especially when he or she is moving to a university where not many friends are going to school. That’s not the case for Peyton and Sam Carr.
The two cousins are moving to USD from Huron, South Dakota and both said they had an easy time getting situated thanks to the volunteers helping first-years move into their new dorm rooms.
Both Carrs said they’re excited about the upcoming year are ready to “meet new people.”
11:00 a.m.
Choosing the right college can be difficult, but after just one visit Alli Hildebrand from Washington knew she belonged at USD.
Hildebrand looked at many colleges in the United States before she narrowed the search down to USD and the University of Hawaii.
“It’s something completely different,” she said. “No one really knows me here, or knows about where I am from. It’s just completely starting over.”
Hildebrand is a first-year living in Richardson Hall. Although she is set on USD, she isn’t quite sold on what exactly she wants to major in.
“I was thinking of marine biology, but there’s not really an ocean over here,” she said.
1:15 p.m.
Alumna and former University of South Dakota professor, Karen Westergaard helped her daughter, Kiley Westergaard, move into the first-year dorms Friday.
Kiley Westergaard is from Rapid City, South Dakota, and is an undecided major. She said she chose USD because “it was close to home but also far enough away.”
Karen said the move wasn’t her “first rodeo,” since she has another daughter who also attends USD.
Both Karen and Kiley said they were pleased with their move-in experience.
“Move-in was good,” Kiley said. “Everyone was really helpful.”
1:50 p.m.
Chesney Arend was one of more than 800 volunteers who helped move new students into their dorms Friday.
The sophomore biology major said she remembered how easy it was when she moved into her dorm at USD with the help of volunteers last year.
“I think it’s important to help the incoming students get settled in, and it gives them some time to say goodbye to their parents,” she said.
Arend, who’s also member of Alpha Phi, was volunteering with other members of Greek Life, as well as with members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and Housing staff.
“It’s a really good way to meet new people and network,” she said about her experience in a sorority.
3:15 p.m.
Move-in day brings all walks of life to the University of South Dakota campus. Freshmen from all over the nation, and from around the world prepare to live their first year in their home away from home.
Among the movers, parents and nervous incoming students Friday was Rebecca Eberts, a dental hygienist major from Freeman, South Dakota.
Eberts said her main interest in USD was the fact that it is the only school in the state that provides a dental hygienist major for students.
Although there weren’t many options to choose from in her home state, Eberts said she’s ready to start off on the right foot.
“I’m kind of nervous, but I think as I get used to it it’ll be easier,” she said.
Check back to find more stories and photos from Move-in Day on volanteonline.com
4:00 p.m.
With Move-in Day coming to a close, the Class of 2020 began their lives at the University of South Dakota with a welcome from USD faculty at convocation.
Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students Kim Grieve, Student Government Association President Nathaniel Steinlicht, Provost and Vice President Jim Moran and USD President James Abbott welcomed the incoming class with encouraging words of building a life at USD .
For first-year Jessica Houser, who will be majoring in biology, this was just another excitement to the day.
“I’m excited for a lot of things,” she said. “I’m excited to learn and meet new people.”
Houser is also eager to do other activities at USD.
“I’m excited to finally be able to buy my own food,” Houser said. “I’m also excited to go to church and do interesting things like that.”
