Updated as of 1:48 p.m. on Aug. 22 to include video. 

The parking lot of Schar Center was transformed for move-in day Aug. 22. There were license plates from across the country as cars were funneled into different lines depending on what neighborhood the incoming student will be living in. 

The Vander Greind family was excited to be checking in, one step closer to seeing Lucy’s dorm room in the East neighborhood. 

“Ever since I visited, I fell in love with it and couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Lucy said. “I’m so excited to be back.” 

Lucy’s mom, Kimberly, said she was excited to set up the dorm after spending all summer planning and curating. Their car was filled with duffel bags containing Lucy’s things from their home in Chicago. 

“It’s a no-brainer — 19 schools on the list, and when we visited Elon, it was obvious to all of us it was the one,” Kimberly said. 

Kimberly said she was excited Lucy would be attending Elon, a school with the values, culture, community and strong education that the Vander Greind family was looking for. 

Incoming freshman Meghan Carraher said she is excited to meet new people, including meeting her roommate in-person for the first time. Carraher’s older brother also attends Elon, and beyond the campus community, she said she is excited to experience an Elon education for herself. 

“I was looking at engineering and the program has a lot of new stuff going on and is expanding,” Carraher said.

Brooke Richardson was preparing to drop her son, Toby, off at Brannock. She said she’s sad to drop her son off but excited to experience Elon’s move-in day. 

“I’ve heard that everyone is so helpful, that the move in here is so seamless,” Brooke said. “I’ve been on all the parent Facebook groups and things like that for Elon, and everyone just says how amazing it is.”

Patrick Langone said he is excited to watch his son, Thomas, enter the next chapter of his life. 

“He’s becoming an adult before our eyes,” Patrick said. “He’s such a good kid. I think it’s going to be great for him to live on his own and be at school.”

Patrick said he was surprised by how organized the move-in process was, as well as everyone involved.

“Even the policemen were friendly, everyone’s nice,” Patrick said. 

Kendra Nanton was one of Elon staff members assisting with check-in at Schar Center. Nanton is an Instructional Technologist with Elon’s Teaching and Learning Technologies. She said she hopes incoming students can find community on campus. 

“Build your community,” Nanton said. “Seek out your friends, the people that make you happy and really try to find your home away from home.”

Anjolina Fantaroni contributed to the reporting of this story.