Thousands of college students, including freshmen moving out on their own for the first time, packed their things and moved into the K-State dormitories this week.
Over the course of a few days, students set up their identification cards, received their keys and moved carts filled with their belongings into the dorms. The official move-in day was Wednesday, though students could move in as early as Sunday for an additional fee. Band members and those in sororities and fraternities began moving in Saturday.
Those taking up residence in the dorms had a 15-minute appointment window in which they checked in upon arrival, initiating their access and making sure their IDs worked.
All areas of the housing and dining department — from housekeeping, maintenance, facilities and grounds and administrative services — worked through the summer to make the residence halls feel like home for students
“We’re excited to see the students back because there was a lot of preparation that each of the areas within the department has put into making sure all the spaces are ready for them,” said Whitney Penn, the assistant director for student recruitment.
Haymaker Hall welcomed mostly first-year students, many of whom were leaving home for the first time, making the transition from child to adult. LED lights, balloons and chalk drawings made Haymaker Hall more inviting.
“There’s been a lot of energy, lots of excitement, new families and new students, which is really wonderful to see,” said Aisha Lee, the community coordinator at Haymaker Hall.
Lee said in the first week, Haymaker Hall offers programs like board game nights and karaoke after orientation so everyone gets to know each other better.
“I’m an educator, but I educate in teaching them how to be an adult, so you can trust your students with us,” Lee said. “We dedicate our lives to this, and we want them to be successful adults.”
Brady Wilder, an incoming college freshman from Denver, will study business at K-State.
“I look forward to meeting new people, trying new things and getting my own life started,” Wilder said. “I have a few friends from high school who went here last year, and I like the small-college-town kind of feel.”
Wilder’s parents helped him to move in. This is their first time sending a child off to college, as he is their eldest.
“We’re very excited,” Mike Wilder, Brady Wilder’s father, said. “K-State seems like a great community. We think it’s going to be the best fit for him.”
It was similar for the family of incoming freshman Chase Johnson. He is from Minneapolis, Kansas, and will study finance this fall.
“I’m excited for a change,” Johnson said. “The next step of my life is to further my education and try to get a degree. I look forward to meeting new people and just having fun.”
