Hundreds of new students can now call Montevallo home after a long move-in day on the University of Montevallo campus Aug. 26

All eight resident halls swarmed with students throughout the day as new freshmen arrived and moved in to their rooms.

Upperclassmen, faculty and alumni wearing bright yellow volunteer shirts helped the students and their families unpack.

“We want their first day on campus to be fun, not stressful,” said women’s head soccer coach and volunteer Patricia Hughes. “It’s all about helping out.”

David Pritchett, director of the UM physical plant, said volunteering to help freshmen move in has become a tradition on campus. He’s volunteered on move-in day for the last 30 years.  It’s about making a good first impression, he said.

“That’s what we’re here for, we’re here for the students,” Pritchett said. “Without them I don’t have a job.”

Kellie Fromholzer was one of the many freshmen setting up their dorm room on move-in day.  However, Fromholzer came a little farther than most to get to Montevallo.

Fromholzer moved from Pittsburgh and chose UM because of its speech pathology program.

“It’s so homey here,” she said. “Everything is so cute and quaint and I’m used to the loud hustle and bustle. I think this will be a nice change.”

Other freshmen were surprised to find the mayor of Montevallo, Ben McCrory, ready to lend a helping hand carrying boxes from cars into dorm rooms.

McCrory said the arrival of the new students is just as exciting for the city as it is for the university.

“We are so glad to see these young students come in who are excited about coming to Montevallo. We want to welcome them,” McCrory said. “It’s an exciting time in their lives and this is going to be their new home.

“I’m always amazed at how much one student can put in one room,” he added.