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From right to left, Jesse Smith, Julie Fowler, Haven Clippinger, Margaret Holtkamp and Kendy Manzano walk through the Daniel Pavilion during the New Student Procession. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau Welcomes Class of 2020 on Move-In Day
Aug 24, 2016
Brenau Staff
Brenau University welcomes more than 400 new Women’s College students this fall from 20 states and 10 countries – including 18 early childhood education students from Anhui Normal University in China – as it kicked off the 2016-17 academic year with its traditional residential hall “Move-In Day” Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Although the new student group comprises both transfer students as well as first-year members of the Class of 2020, Move-in Day really is about the quintessential college “freshman” moving away from home for the first time. After checking in at the Northeast Georgia History Center on Academy Street in Gainesville starting at 8:30 a.m., they had time to move into residence halls that will be their homes away from home.
More than 130 first-year residential students, including the Anhui University exchange students, checked in Wednesday morning out of about 150 registered freshmen attending this first fall session. The freshman class has a collective average GPA of 3.44 and an average SAT score of 1,020. The commuting students will check in the morning of Thursday, Aug. 25.
The 18 students from China all are juniors, transfers from ANU to complete the last two years of their undergraduate studies in early childhood education at Brenau as members of the Class of 2018. They moved into their residence halls a few days earlier when they arrived on campus after their long trip from the other side of the world.
Members of the Brenau Golden Tigers intercollegiate sports teams and coaches were on hand Wednesday to assist the new students and their families move belongings out of cars in into rooms. The new students will spend the rest of the week in orientation and get-acquainted activities before the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 29.
The first residential freshman to arrive for check-in, Diana Quinones, is a studio arts major from Puerto Rico who now lives in Greer, South Carolina. She took to the Brenau atmosphere right away.
“My sister used to live a couple blocks from here, and she told me about this place so I checked it out,” she said. “I liked it. I love how everyone is so helpful, like the teachers want to help you get to where you want to be. There’s sisterhood here.”
Underclassmen moving into Crudup and Van Hoose Residence Halls were already settling in and getting to know one another right after registration check-in. Roommates Cassidy Morgan Buck, special education major and dance minor from Roswell, Georgia, and G.A. (GraceAnn) Brooks, a theater major from Marietta, Georgia, chatted away about their plans for the upcoming year as they moved in their belongings and tried to reassemble their home-brought furniture and lamps.
“I want to be a special ed teacher at a school,” said Buck, “At the dance studio where I currently work [Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance in Roswell], the director has talked about setting up a program where special ed students can learn to dance and have it be the entire focus. I’m really excited to get to know everyone here at Brenau.”
Brooks is also said she also eagerly anticipates getting acquainted with her campus neighbors, even the furry, four-legged ones: “I’m looking forward to getting to know the sweet orange stray cat who lives outside!”
Raven Lillian King from Warner Robins, Georgia, plans to major in pre-physical therapy, but it is the Golden Tigers basketball team that lured her to Brenau.
“I met Coach Stewart at an open gym, and I was interested to come out so I came up and I liked Brenau. I chose sports medicine so in case I don’t make it in basketball, I’ll still be able to be part of sports,” she said.
After the first on-campus lunch at Hopkins Dining Hall, Brenau President Ed Schrader and his chocolate Labrador retriever, Jake, hosted a get-acquainted social on the adjacent Wilkes Hall front porch. Students and families met Schrader and members of the university faculty and administrative staff while being treated to King of Pops popsicles.
Although the university will not know the total number of students who enroll until the final day for dropping or adding classes, the Women’s College group is expected to be about 800.
Cassidy Buck, a freshman special education major and dance minor, works with her grandmother Phyllis ‘Mama’ Engebretson to make up her room inside Van Hoose Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Quinnesha Turner, a senior from Winterville, Ga. and member of the basketball team, helps new students move into Crudup Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)(AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Aja Clark, right, laughs while decorating the wall of her room in Van Hoose Hall with her roommate Raven King helps. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Micah Rhodes, a junior health sciences major and member of the competitive cheerleading team, helps a freshman student move into their room in Crudup Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Sarah Jane Bowers, center, gets a hug from Micah Rhodes outside of Crudup Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Raven King is reflected in a mirror while working to decorate her room in Van Hoose Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Student and parents carry belongings in to their dorm rooms. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Tabitha Morrison, right, and Shelton Kendrix move into their rooms at the beginning of orientation. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Raven King, center a freshman student and member of the basketball team, waves as she is greeted by team members who help her move into her room. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Jacky Baker, left, laughs with Saccoia Anderson inside the room that Baker’s granddaughter, Raven King, and Clark’s daughter, Aja Clark, are sharing in Van Hoose Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
From left to right, Olivia Davis, Morgan Wood and Lauren Smith work together to carry a mini refrigerator into the residence halls. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Chloe Ireland, freshman health sciences major, carries her belongings into the residence hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Autumn Dodson, a member of the basketball team and orientation leader, helps students move in to their rooms. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Students move their belongings into Crudup Hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Nikki Carter, an freshman health sciences major, left, poses for a photo with her sister Kerrison Carter, who is celebrating her fifteenth birthday by helping her sister move in to her residence hall. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Student and parents carry belongings in to their dorm rooms. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
An incoming student walks past a sign welcoming them to Brenau. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brianna Sterling, center, laughs while talking with people outside of Crudup while moving in. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
From front to back, Daniela Santiago, Lauren Hill, Darian Payne and other new student process past the Grace Hooten Moore Memorial Fountain during the New Student Procession. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brittany Brookins, center, Katherine Fuller and other student leaders lead new students in a cheer during the opening ceremony & formal welcome in Pearce Auditorium. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
New students pose for a group portrait on the steps of Pearce Auditorium. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau President Ed Schrader addresses new students during the formal welcome. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Aziza Rodriguez listens intently during the opening ceremony & formal welcome inside Pearce Auditorium. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau President Ed Schrader laughs while Autumn Dodson, not pictured, speaks to new students at the opening ceremony & formal welcome. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Students laugh while waiting to cross Main Street to arrive at the Tiger Takeover. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Tiara Ellis gets a hug while exploring the Gainesville square during the Tiger Takeover. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Nairi Gilmer laughs at her table while waiting for the beginning of a concert inside Sweet Magnolias. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Kyle Gomez-Leineweber passes out tickets for free gelato to Aja Clark and her roommate Raven King during the Tiger Takeover of the Gainesville square. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Madison Kosater, a senior history and political science major, cheers on a friend on the cheerleading team during the R.O.A.R. rally & cookout. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau cheerleaders perform during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Robert Schwarer, left, and Dylan Ledbetter, get snow cones from the Kona Ice truck at the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Amanda Bowersox, a sophomore health sciences major, gets a piggyback ride from Kaitlyn Salter, a senior health sciences major, during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Daniela Santiago, center, and Margaret Holtkamp dance to the Electric Slide during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Students enjoy barbecue in the Amphitheater and wait to see if they are winners in a raffle during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brittany Brookins, left, and Cassidy Collier dance during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Students dance to the Electric Slide as during the R.O.A.R. rally. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
New students queue behind the Daniel Pavilion before the beginning of the new student procession. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
From right to left, Jesse Smith, Julie Fowler, Haven Clippinger, Margaret Holtkamp and Kendy Manzano walk through the Daniel Pavilion during the New Student Procession. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
New students listen to speeches during the opening ceremony & formal welcome portion of Brenau’s orientation. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Amanda Lammers, vice president of student services, hands out popsicles during the President’s Social as a part of orientation. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Students enjoy popsicles in the lobby of the Hopkins Dining Room during the President’s Social. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
From left to right, Harry Deng, Jocelyn Heng, Belle Ni, Cherry Hong, Becky Xu, Rachel Pei, Lisa Wang, Miao Miao Yu, Amy Yang, Daisy Qiu, Lavender Qin, Sarah Morales, Cathy Wu and Lily Li react as Brenau President Ed Schrader’s chocolate lab Jake jumps to greet Vice President of Communications David Morrison, not pictured. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)