https://youtu.be/k9H1cBZ5YaY
Up College Hill and through the gates of campus, cars filled with books, bins, and eager first-year students arrived at the College of the Holy Cross on a sunny Aug. 27.
Even before their cars were parked, the 768 members of the Class of 2020 and their families were met by more than 350 volunteers — made up of student leaders, athletics teams, alumni, and staff — all excited to welcome them to the Holy Cross community.
The cheering, gray T-shirt wearing volunteers helped move each student into their new residence halls, where they began to settle in, get to know their roommates, and meet other members of their class.
In addition to unpacking, students took care of business needs, such as completing a first-year student survey and receiving their Holy Cross IDs. Receptions for new students and their families took place in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom.
In the afternoon, the commotion of move-in day was replaced with reflection during the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on Fitton Field. Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of Holy Cross, formally welcomed new students, and their families, of all faith traditions to the College as the new year was inaugurated. The Mass concluded with the blessings of the new students by parents and faculty, a Holy Cross tradition.
Continuing to kick-start their journeys at Holy Cross, students are participating in Fall Gateways Orientation, a three-day program designed to ease the transition into college life by familiarizing students to the wide variety of academic, spiritual, community-building, and social programs available at the College.
Classes for first-year and all returning students begin on Aug. 31.
Photography by Tom Rettig and Dan Vaillancourt
Video by Tom Rettig
Related Information
- View the Fall Gateways schedule of events on the orientations website
- Holy Cross to Welcome Class of 2020 on Aug. 27
- Photo Gallery: Class of 2020 Gets Preview of Life on the Hill at Summer Gateways
