Moving boxes and sorority letters were widespread across the Troy Campus of Troy University this past weekend as students moved into their dorm rooms and celebrated the end of Rush Week on Sorority Hill.

Cars, trucks and trailers filled every lot on campus Saturday during Move In Day as students moved in their dorm room essentials in preparation for another school year.

Zachary Matthews, an incoming freshman from Center Point, Ala., first visited TROY last year during Boys State and is eager to make new friends—and reconnect with his former high school classmates.

“I came here and a year ago and have been in love with the campus ever since,” he said. “I want to study cyber security or something technology related and definitely plan on joining the Computer Science Club. I know a few people from my high school that are here. I said I was coming to TROY first, so I think they followed me, but I’m ready to go find them.”

Accompanied by his parents, Zanthia and Michael, and his younger sister, the family started their moving day bright and early at 8 a.m. Zanthia said her overall feeling about her son moving off to college was “peace.”

“We’re so excited for him to grow up and start using those skills, building his character, all the things we instilled in him,” she said. “We’re looking forward to building relationships with the other TROY parents and students and definitely the faculty as well.”

Michael, a pastor at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Birminham, Ala., said he’s most grateful for the atmosphere his son will be surrounded by.

“With me being a pastor, I was really excited about the campus ministry options that are here,” he said. “When we first came down, one of the first things we felt was the family atmosphere, and we don’t have any doubt that the faculty and administration will be looking after our child and consider him just as important as we do.”

Across campus on Sorority Hill, over 200 hopeful women waited to open their sealed bids to see which house they’d call home.

Faith Merrill, a freshman from Niceville, Fla., said every day of recruitment held something new and exciting.

“Every day I woke up with jitters from not knowing what to expect, to see if I got the all clear to move on to the next round,” she said. “It’s been exciting but so nerve racking.”

After meeting her new sisters, Merrill said she’s most looking forward to starting classes and working towards her goal of graduating with a degree in American politics and public administration. 

Callie Henderson, a freshman from Fairhope, Ala., said it was a stressful, but surreal experience. 

“It’s been a lot. It’s one of the most stressful weeks I’ve ever had in my entire life, but it’s been so worth it,” she said. “Just meeting with everyone and going to the different houses, you do get a feeling when you walk into the one that you want. It’s surreal.”

Sorority bids were handed out promptly at 10 a.m., and each girl who received a bid had the chance to join a longstanding tradition of running up the hill to her awaiting sorority family. Coverage of the event can be found here.