Bobcat neighborhood makes move-in pleasant, quick and enjoyable

On August 21, lots of of household automobiles conveying first-year Bobcats to their new educational house have been greeted by school, workers and pupil volunteers. Working in groups, volunteers swiftly transferred carloads of necessities and excited new college students to their dorm rooms, permitting households extra time to get pleasure from room set-up with their pupil.

Residence Hall Director Mike Collins stated Bobcat volunteers add pleasure and effectivity to the move-in system.

“It’s a well-oiled machine and there’s such a great energy,” Collins stated. “We have a lot of help from different student groups, in particular some of our Greek life organizations, and also wonderful faculty and staff. People are very excited to be here and pumped about the year.”

Director of Talent Acquisition Regina Leonard stated school and workers are devoted to volunteering with move-in annually.

“As an institution, we are very fortunate to have an overly committed faculty and staff community. They really don’t give it a second thought, because it’s an opportunity to have that outreach, to connect with one another and have the engagement with our students. That’s the reason we’re here,” stated Leonard.

Human Resources Business Partner and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty and Staff, Joanna Wayton, is a returning move-in volunteer.

“I’ve found it to be really fun. It’s exciting to see all the parents and students, and it’s also a great time to spend with fellow employees that you might not see often. You really get that sense of community and pulling together,” stated Wayton.

Sarah Catenza, administrative assistant to the Office of Inclusive Excellence, stated volunteering to welcome college students annually is all the time energizing.

“We have a smooth process, and I love to see the new students so excited and happy,” stated Catenza.

As a gradual stream of automobiles pulled into the South Quad on the Mount Carmel Campus, Senior Director of Marketing Operations Steve Justo was amongst volunteers greeting them curbside and lending a serving to hand. Justo has loved being part of Quinnipiac’s move-in volunteer corps for a few years.

“I like the energy, the excitement and helping people, and I think it’s also all part of the Quinnipiac University spirit,” Justo stated. “It’s kind of a tradition for faculty, staff and students to really participate, and it’s a pleasant surprise for the parents because we unload everything so quickly.”

New Bobcat mother Maureen Damon stated the hands-on assist made it an awesome begin for her daughter, Kayla Damon ’29, and was a lot appreciated after her household’s two-hour drive from New York.

“It’s really great to see so much community. Everyone is so welcoming and wants to help,” Damon stated. “I knew that they were going to help us, but I honestly thought we were going to be waiting in a long line for an hour or two. But we pulled right up and all these people were greeting us, and then everyone just took everything out of the car for us.”

Bella Kaminsky ’29 cherished having a hand in shifting in after touring together with her household from Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

“Everyone was really nice. The Grove is a really nice place and it looks like it’s going to be a good way to meet people,” stated Kaminsky.

Mom Amy Kaminsky commented on the passion and helpfulness of the volunteers. 

“We’re impressed with the move-in — everyone’s been really helpful and the young ladies who moved all the stuff into the room are so lovely and so friendly,” she stated.

Chi Omega member Haylie D’Orlando ’28 stated serving to new college students transfer can also be a possibility to interact with incoming Bobcats about getting concerned, and to assist set the tone for an awesome begin to their faculty yr.

“I really enjoy being able to be one of the first people that they meet and giving them ideas of things they can do to get involved,” stated D’Orlando. “When I moved in, it was helpful for me to have a move-in crew because I remember feeling so overwhelmed. Having a calm, friendly face made me feel a lot better.”

Noelle Carmody ’26 helped out as a part of the Kappa Alpha Theta move-in crew.

“It’s so exciting for the young kids and it’s a full-circle moment because we were doing the same thing four years ago. I actually got moved in by the sorority I ended up joining,” stated Carmody.

With his daughter, Olivia Cottrell ‘29, beginning her first yr at Quinnipiac as a resident of The Grove, volunteering on this move-in was particularly significant for Chair of Biomedical Sciences and Bobcat alumnus Robert Cottrell.

As each a volunteer and a first-year mother or father, Cottrell stated the help Quinnipiac gives to newly arriving college students is outstanding.

“My daughter, and every student beginning here, will be welcomed and overwhelmed with support,” stated Cottrell. “Between move-in and their first weekend here, there’s a lot thrown at them. We give them some time to get settled in, decompress, and then get involved in the community.”  

Last yr, Emma Corridan ’27, MBA ’28, was a first-year resident at The Grove throughout its inaugural yr. Each yr, over 300 first-year college students and practically 100 upper-class pupil mentors make up The Grove neighborhood. During the tutorial yr, led by school and pupil mentors, first-year residents co-create impactful tasks to profit the Quinnipiac neighborhood and past.

This yr, Corridan is returning to dwell at The Grove as a pupil mentor.

“I want to help the incoming students create a project of their own that will create lasting change in the community,” stated Corridan. “Being a part of this community is really great. Every dorm has resident advisors to help students out, but here we have student mentors, which means there are more upperclassmen in the building who have experience at Quinnipiac. They know they can come to us with any questions or to just hang out. And because we’re also working with them on a project, we’re there to check in with them and help them with skills that involve planning, organization, putting together a team and implementation. It’s a great bridge between taking what we’ve already learned to helping the incoming students with what they can achieve.”

New Bobcat Krista Mogor ’29 from South Windsor, Connecticut, stated The Grove constructing is gorgeous, however being part of this purposeful neighborhood is what drew her to use to hitch this yr’s incoming resident group.

“I think the projects that we have to do are going to bring us together as a community. I’m very excited and very happy,” stated Mogor.

Mogor and her new roommate, Chelsea Mennel ’29, from Winchester, Connecticut, beforehand related on Instagram, however the move-in marked their first in-person assembly. Having the assistance of move-in volunteers made the day extra enjoyable and far much less tense, stated Mennel.

“It wasn’t hectic at all, so that was a relief. Now, I’m just excited and I’m looking forward to meeting more people. I feel like living in a place where people have the same goals as me is a great way to help people connect,” stated Mennel.

During summer season orientation, Myles Spielkevitz ’29 from Long Island, New York, met his new roommate, Nate Brody ’29 from Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Spielkevitz stated he was feeling enthusiastic about selecting The Grove neighborhood.

“It just felt like another home to me, and I like the idea of doing a project with other people who have the same interests as me,” Spielkevitz stated.

Brody stated he was having fun with the nice power and assist generated by everybody concerned in move-in and the sensation of pleasure round campus.

“A lot has been leading up to this,” stated Brody. “It definitely feels like a bigger deal.”