The largest fall student population making Tri-State University its home in 10 years experienced a variety of weather conditions for the move-in Aug. 18 and 19, said TSU Director of Student Life Randy White.

Saturday students enjoyed a sunny, dry day, perfect for the task. “Saturday when the new students checked in, the weather was fabulous,” White said. TSU students and staff volunteers eagerly assembled to help and to welcome the students.

“As the students pulled up to the residence halls, a combination of students in Greek organizations and from Christian Campus House were out unloading vehicles and helping them move in,” he said. “It was really neat, because the cars would pull up to the halls and the students would swarm out to help, like ants after a piece of candy.”

Volunteers manned welcome centers in residence halls, dispensing freezer pops, TSU water, and popcorn to students. Faculty and staff circulated the halls, greeting and welcoming students to their residences and the TSU community. Around 450 pizzas from Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and other retailers provided lunch for students and parents.

“The best thing was to see the faces of the parents as they moved their students into the beautiful new apartments,” White said.

“Sunday, it was wet,” White acknowledged. “We still were able to help, but it was a totally different atmosphere.”

White’s department offered its first activity for the semester Sunday with Bingo for Books, which attracted 500 TSU students to the game for a chance to win department gift certificates, a semester of free textbooks, or a meal plan for a semester, among other prizes.

In what has become a tradition, the Angola Wal-Mart store offered Moonlight Madness following the Bingo game, placing Subway sandwiches and food out for TSU students and offering giveaways and drawings as they shopped for school supplies.