The start of the fall semester brought new beginnings to the Troy University Campus as students moved into their residence halls and members of the TROY community celebrated the conclusion of sorority recruitment with Bid Day. For the students taking part in each event, the weekend marked an important step toward establishing new connections and beginning their TROY experience.

Across campus, students and their families spent the day carrying boxes, arranging belongings and settling into new spaces as the reality of a new school year began to set in. For incoming freshmen, Move-In marked the transition from life at home to the independence and opportunities that come with college.

Among those beginning that transition was Morgan Moore, an incoming freshman from Des Moines, Iowa, who discovered TROY while exploring colleges through an online college-finding app.

“I’m really excited for this new chapter in my life,” said Moore. “I’m especially looking forward to experiencing everything that comes with being on campus, including the tailgates and getting to be part of that TROY tradition.”

Blake Christopher Cox, an incoming freshman from Enterprise, Alabama, is also beginning his college experience and said moving into his own space has brought a new sense of independence.

“It’s extremely exciting and very freeing, knowing that I’m stepping into this new level of independence,” said Cox. “It’s all up to me now. It’s really exciting to have this opportunity and know that this is my next chapter.”

Cox said he is also looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunities available to students outside of the classroom, including the opportunities to stay active and participate in sports at TROY’s recreation facilities.

While Move-In gave students the opportunity to establish their new homes on campus, Bid Day brought another group of students together as sorority recruitment reached its conclusion.

Students participating in recruitment gathered on Sorority Hill to receive their bids and celebrate joining their new sorority chapters. The culmination of recruitment gave students the opportunity to begin building relationships within their new sisterhoods and become more involved in campus life.

For Mallory Davis, an incoming freshman from Andalusia, Alabama, the days leading up to Bid Day were already providing opportunities to form meaningful connections. Davis said one of the most exciting parts of her first week at TROY has been meeting new people and finding friendships that make campus feel more like home.

“The most exciting part has been meeting new people and connecting with people who have the same values as me,” said Davis. “It’s been really special meeting people who I can attend church with and just be myself around.”

The experiences Davis has had during her first week at TROY have already given her a glimpse of the friendships and memories she hopes to build throughout her college experience.

For Bayleigh Cherry, a senior and returning Pi Chi, Bid Day offered an opportunity to help guide students through a process she has experienced herself. Now in her second and final year serving as a Pi Chi, Cherry said watching students find happiness throughout recruitment has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“My favorite thing is genuinely seeing the happiness and joy of all the girls,” said Cherry. “No matter what house they end up running home to in the end, I just love seeing that they’re so happy and get to have the experience I’ve had for the past four years, that’s the biggest joy I’ve ever had in college.”

Cherry also encouraged students who may be considering sorority recruitment in the future to take the opportunity to become involved in Greek life.

“Go Greek,” said Cherry. “Being in a sorority and deciding to be involved in Greek life is the best thing that I’ve ever done. It’s opened so many doors for me. It’s made me so many friendships. There’s nothing like it. I highly encourage everyone to do it.”

As students settled into residence halls and new sorority members celebrated with their chapters, the weekend offered different experiences for different members of the TROY community. For some, it was the first night in a new home. For others, it was the beginning of a new sisterhood.

Together, the events marked the start of another academic year and the many opportunities ahead for new Trojans to build friendships, become involved and find their place at TROY.

A photo gallery of Bid Day Fall 2026 can be found here.