An eager and excited Class of 2028—along with totes full of their personal belongings, essential snacks and reminders of home—arrived on campus this week ready to make their mark on Longwood and embark on their next life chapter.
The unseasonably cool weather on Wednesday and Thursday—with low humidity and highs in the 70s—was a welcome reprieve from the sweltering mid-August heat that typically makes freshman move-in days sweaty affairs. While there was less perspiration this year, there was no shortage of the traditional mix of excitement and trepidation, combined with hugs, tears, photos and goodbyes.
Moss and Johns halls—the high-rise residence halls on the east side of campus—and Sharp and Register halls on the west side, where the majority of freshmen live, were abuzz with fresh energy as residence life staff, Peer Mentors, baseball team members, cheerleaders and Longwood staff greeted new Lancers with their college life essentials.
Overall, the move-in process ran smoothly, with elevator wait times manageable. Longwood students and staff stepped up to help freshmen and their families unload their belongings and get them into their new residence halls. In fact, there were so many volunteers helping that at points they seemed to outnumber students and their families.
I’ve never been away from my family before, so I’m a little scared because of that. But I’m looking forward to making new friends, and I’m excited to experience Longwood’s traditions.
Emily Sanchez ’28 Tweet This
Among those moving into Johns Hall on Wednesday were Emily Sanchez ’28 and Jalyn Ferguson ’28, who have been friends since middle school back home in Chesterfield and decided to be roommates when they found out they both would be attending Longwood. Sanchez, who is majoring in biology and pre-med, has a sister who attended Longwood, so the university felt familiar to her when it came time to look at colleges.
“When I visited my sister, everybody was really nice, and the campus felt safe,” she said. “I’ve never been away from my family before, so I’m a little scared because of that. But I’m looking forward to making new friends, and I’m excited to experience Longwood’s traditions.”
The Sanchez and Ferguson families were working together to help their daughters set up their new home away from home on Wednesday and maximize the space needed to store all of their creature comforts. With Sanchez’s father wielding a hammer and others helping, Ferguson’s bed was quickly disassembled and put back together with the mattress as high as it could go, allowing for the maximum storage space underneath.
My mom and my grandmother are from Farmville, so that family connection was definitely a factor.
Jalyn Ferguson ’28
Ferguson, a nursing major who is already a certified medical assistant, said family connections also contributed to her decision to come to Longwood.
“My mom and my grandmother are from Farmville, so that family connection was definitely a factor,” she said. “I was also drawn to the small campus. I don’t do well in huge environments.”
New friends, new experiences and a new home for the next four years await the roughly 1,000 new students Longwood is welcoming to campus this fall. Members of the incoming Class of 2028, the largest the university has welcomed since the Covid pandemic, have been leaders in their high schools and respective communities, and bring a diverse range of experiences, perspectives and talents to Longwood.
Move-in day was extra special for Emma Hendrick ’28 from Matoaca, Virginia. It was her 18th birthday as well as the beginning of her college experience. Hendrick, who said she has watched every episode of the Criminal Minds television show at least nine times, is planning to double major in psychology and criminology. She is looking forward to exploring campus and seeing what’s happening around Farmville.
Even though it was her birthday, there was no cake on her move-in day agenda. “I’ve had three cakes in the last week,” she said with a laugh.
The Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars is welcoming 169 new students, who arrived on campus Sunday for the annual Honors College retreat. The incoming CHC class has an average GPA of 4.2 and 17 percent were ranked in the top 10 in their high school graduating class.
Ian Perl ’28, was moving into Moss Hall on Wednesday. He comes to Longwood from Miami, Florida, and will play on the men’s tennis team.
“I have been playing tennis since I could walk,” said Perl, who is majoring in business administration with a concentration in management. “I chose Longwood because I thought the school was really nice, and I liked the guys on the tennis team.”
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