UNCP's largest freshman class moves in

UNCP photo New freshman student at UNCP Samantha Schrock of Fayetteville brought her boyfriend Chico DeLagaraza to help her move in. He brought the flowers for her room.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, it was already 80 degrees on UNC Pembroke's campus, and it felt a lot warmer to those standing in line outside the Brave Card office.

It was freshman move-in day at the University, and a record class of more than 900 was converging on UNCP's residence halls.

Handing out slices of pizza for the Student Alumni Association, junior Jennifer Clary and senior Natasha Tajman remembered their move-in as freshmen.

"It was so long ago," Clary said. "But it was hot then, too."

"I was a freshman at East Carolina," Tajman said. "There was no air conditioning in my dorm ... hot."

UNCP's residence halls are air conditioned, but the parking lots were hot and busy with new students moving in.

"Moving in the essentials was the hard part," said parent Scott Thysell of Hope Mills. "Refrigerator, toaster oven, TV and, thank goodness, a laptop computer. We didn't think we would have room for all the clothes in the car."

UNCP photo From left, alumni Floyd Locklear and future alumni Natasha Tajman and Jennifer Clary serve pizza to the incoming frosh.

There were other "essentials."

Jessie Bachovin from Wilmington, Del., brought her dog Emma.

"My sister's going to miss Emma a lot," said Maddie Bachovin, Jessie's sister whose job was holding the Chihuahua.

Samantha Schrock of Fayetteville brought her boyfriend Chico DeLagaraza, who brought fresh flowers for her room. Chico was headed for UNC Charlotte in two days.

Excitement mingled with concern as parents said goodbye to their college freshmen.

"I worry that she will call every weekend and want me to visit," said Sue Bachovin.

"She's quiet," said George Smith about his daughter Temeka. "She's my first to go to college. I'm not sure she will ask enough questions."

Lewis Hall's son, Bem, is his third to attend to college.

"This is the right place for my son," Hall said. "This was his best visit. It's small, and he needs that."

By noon the line at the Brave Card office had moved to the Textbook Reservation office, the Bookstore was jammed and the pizza nearly consumed. And the heat sizzled on.

UNCP photo New freshman student at UNCP Jessie Bachovin (left) and her mother Sue on move-in day.

–information from University Relations