MOUNT OLIVE—Suitcases and boxes filled the parking lots of the residence halls this past weekend as the class of 2014 arrived on the Mount Olive College (MOC) campus. A quick glance down the hallways of King, Hart, Griffin, and Grantham residence halls displayed excitement and energy as families and friends unloaded luggage and said their final goodbyes.

Yasmine Blue and Maricela Ortiz smiled and chatted as they met for the first time and settled into becoming new roommates. Yasmine, a freshman from Robeson County, is looking forward to majoring in accounting and playing basketball for the Trojans. “I’m ready to get a good education,” she says.

Katie Woodard, a freshman from Princeton and a biology major, already has strong ties with the MOC community. Her brother, Keith Woodard, is a 2010 MOC graduate, and her cousin, Tim Woodard, is director of Traditional Admissions. Katie’s expectations for her future college experiences are simple, “to learn a lot, and have a good time!”

Friends and family filled Shaquan Atkinson’s room as he settled in to his new room in Grantham. A hopeful engineering major from Lynchburg, Va., Atkinson says he found out about Mount Olive College through an academic advisor at his high school. With a huge smile, he says he can’t wait to see what is in store for him in the coming year.

Resident Advisor Jason Mitchell made new freshman Brian Carter from Sampson County feel right at home as the two talked about clubs, classes, and life in the residence halls. “We are here to make you feel like family,” says Jason. “It’s going to be a great new year!”

More excitement buzzed outside as booths set up by local churches including First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Mount Olive, Rooty Branch FWB Church in Duplin County, Northeast FWB Church in Wayne County and Goldsboro First FWB Church offered warm welcomes to new freshmen and their families. Chase Smith, youth pastor at First Presbyterian Church, says he is encouraged by the sense of community that local churches are developing with the students.

Other helping hands included Andy’s Cheeseburgers and Cheesesteaks serving up fresh lemonade and orangeade to help relieve the heat, and Dominos Pizza serving up free pizza. MOC Peer Mentors, student assistants, and Residence Life staff were busy hurrying around meeting and greeting the new class as well.

This year, Mount Olive College is welcoming a freshman class of nearly 240 and over 90 new transfer students. It is the largest incoming class in the college’s history.

Freshmen have participated in a variety of events throughout the weekend. Their activities have included meeting with their new peer mentors, attending convocation, and participating in a group service project. Traditional students move in on Aug. 17, and classes begin on Aug. 18.

Mount Olive College is ready to transform the lives of yet another freshman class as the 2010-2011 school year begins!