Hannibal-LaGrange University welcomed new and returning students to campus last week ahead of the start of the fall semester. Student leaders began moving back to campus August 12-14. Fall athletes arrived on August 17. New students moved in on August 20 and returning students came back to campus on August 23.
Student ambassadors, resident advisors, and the Trojan Army, along with faculty and staff, welcomed over 150 new students to campus. Move-In Day was different than previous years with a drive-in check-in process to encourage social distancing. Masks were required for all students, guests, and volunteers, and hand sanitizer was available at each move-in station.
The Trojan Army is an annual move-in tradition at HLGU and is always a tremendous blessing to new students and their parents. Their motto, “we move so you don’t have to,” fits their service well.
Will Brantley, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said, “We are grateful the Lord has blessed our campus with these new students and are excited to see them grow in their time at HLGU.”
New Student Orientation began at 4:30 pm on the 20th with the Walk of Honor. The Walk of Honor is a beloved tradition where new students, led by a bagpiper and the Trojan mascot, walk through crowds of faculty, staff, student leaders, and their families, through the Arch, and are greeted by University President, Dr. Anthony Allen and welcomed into the HLGU family. This walk of honor signifies the beginning of their HLGU journey. At graduation, these same students will walk out of the arch to signify the end of their HLGU journey.
Students then gathered around the Trinity Tree, located between the L.A. Foster Student Center and the Burt Administration Building, for a final word of encouragement, the alma mater, and a prayer of dedication.
The weekend was full of events for NSO to help acclimate new students to campus and featured the introduction of HLGU traditions to new students, making new friends and embracing what it means to be a Trojan. Although Move-in Day and NSO looked a little different this year with new safety procedures in place due to COVID-19, the community and Trojan spirit was alive and well.
These days marked the return of students to campus for the first time since mid-March, when the University transitioned to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since mid-March, the University has worked diligently to establish procedures and protocols to follow CDC guidelines, best practices, and public health recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Brantley said, “This semester will be different than any experienced before, however we have prayed, planned, and prepared the best we know how and are confident the Lord will richly bless HLGU and our students this year.”