It was “move-in” day Saturday at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Students with boxes of belongings and high expectations moved into their new homes across campus.
There was a lot of activity at Reid Hall and next door at Maple Hill housing complex where students with boxes were finding their assigned dorms.
Evan McClay, from Dallas, Texas, was cleaning up her new room at Reid Hall.
"We've been here for five hours, so it just takes a long time and lots of different trips to different stores," Evan McClay, studying Business Retail, said.
They had a lot of support from family and friends, who were helping them get situated in the new surroundings.
Bailee Callens, 18, was moving boxes inside her dorm, with the help of her family and new roommate Addie Staples.
"I'm excited, I've been up here like four times and I met Addie my roommate," Callens said.
Volunteers helped make the transition easier by directing traffic, unloading cars and making students feel welcome.
"We are here to have a smile on our face, hopefully greet them and welcome them to Fayetteville because we are probably the first people to welcome them to the city," Austin Schilling, volunteer, said.
Schilling carried heavy boxes up seven floors making sure nothing was left behind.
"A mass rush of cars and they are doing a good job of filing people in and out pretty quickly," Schilling said.
Out-of-state students were from Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Students from all over the world come to study at UA.
"The first time I came down here to the school, I fell in love just the campus, the people and everything. I'm excited," Maddie Borg, studying Business, said.
And there was plenty of excitement about classes starting Aug. 20.
"It will definitely be a good journey and I'm really excited about it," McClay said.