University of Mary Washington Welcomes Students Back to Campus
Students moved in last week and classes started Monday.
By Ky Huynh
INTERN
The University of Mary Washington welcomed 712 first year and transfer students into their residence halls last week. Beginning at 8 a.m., students and parents arrived at the Fredericksburg campus to move in their necessities and to say goodbye to their families before classes start this week on Monday.
“I think it’s coming together well,” said freshman Luke Harnishfeger, who is living in Randolph Hall. “I mean it’s a little hectic, but it’s coming together well.”
Along with being a student, Harnishfeger is also playing baseball for the UMW team.
“[I’m] looking forward to new adventures, making new friends, and having a good time,” he said.
Freshman Zoe Gonzalez is looking forward to majoring in philosophy after seeing the classroom in James Farmer Hall.
“It’s such a small like community,” she said of the UMW campus. “It felt like you don’t just blend in, like you could really do something [at UMW].”
Several students moving into Virginia Hall commented on how polished the dorm looks. According to UMW Residence Life and Housing, Virginia Hall was built in 1915 and is one of the oldest on campus but was renovated in 2021.
“It’s going well, I like the dorm,” said freshman Kyleigh Eiberio. “It’s very bright.”
Nathan Timko, another student living in Virginia Hall also commented, “The dorm is nice and clean, really good, really happy with it. I think it’s going to be a great place to live.”
Zoe Rollins, a sophomore volunteering to help with the move-in process, said it was “very nice seeing families being together and being in a sad but loving environment for their kids.”
“And everyone’s been very helpful and cooperative,” she said.
Jennifer Timko, Nathan’s mom, said she was impressed by the move-in process. “It’s been really efficient,” she said. “I’m excited about the opportunities [for Nathan], and I’m excited that this campus seems to be such a great, happening place.”
Nathan Timko plans to major in physics and is looking forward to doing real research in the labs at the Jepson Science Center.
“The labs are fantastic,” he said. “I really think I will have a really great time with professors. I think I could really learn a lot.”
When asked what clubs he’s looking forward to joining, he said, “I’m definitely going to attend UMW Club [Carnival] Day to go find something I want to do. But I have a few things in mind like Fencing Club—that’s definitely one.”
Freshman Dasha Milligan is also excited to join the different clubs and programs at UMW.
“We talked about the women’s weightlifting club [Girl Gains] and maybe rugby,” she said. “And then Club Tennis.”
Some students were able to move in early for programs such as Nest or Soft Landings, Honor City as Text, athletics and student employment.
“I moved in last Sunday and also today,” said Milligan. “I feel like moving this stuff out of the car and getting everything up has been really good, and everybody’s been really nice.”
Classes began today, with more than 1,000 new students starting their college journeys at UMW.
“Go to events, meet people,” Rollins advised new students. “I was very lonely my first semester by not doing things. But once I got more involved in activities second semester, I made a lot of friends, so just be involved and get active.”
Intern Ky Hyunh is a junior at UMW.
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