High schoolers from across the tri-state area and even North Carolina visited the Troy Campus Thursday as part of the bi-annual Spring Open House event. To give as many students as possible the opportunity to apply, the event has been extended online until April 16.

During the event, students and their families learned about scholarships, tuition, housing and more during a detailed Admissions presentation before going on a tour of the campus. After becoming familiar with the academic buildings, residence halls, rec center and dining facilities, groups returned to talk with recruiters about any additional questions.

 Emily Kate Durden, Director of Enrollment Marketing, said the decision was made to extend the virtual Open House to allow as many students as possible to make their interest in TROY official.

“We wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to learn about TROY, so we decided to extend our Open House through the weekend,” she said. “Our virtual Open House will put all of the resources students need to get admitted to TROY and learn about our University at the tips of their fingers. Students can get more information about admissions, scholarships, financial aid and student life.”

Rebecca Blumenfeld, Career Academy Coordinator at George Washington Carver High School in Birmingham, Ala., brought a group of juniors to learn more about what TROY has to offer. Three seniors who’ve already been accepted to TROY also made the trip for their first official visit.

“We wanted our students to see a school that was still in Alabama, but a little further from home. Somewhere they might not have been able to get out and see on a regular day,” she said. “We have three academy programs—engineering, health sciences and visual communications, which includes graphic arts and media production—and all of those programs are very well represented at TROY, which was another factor in us choosing to visit.”

Blumenfeld also said she appreciated the effort that was made to make their visit meaningful.

“We appreciate the Divine Nine coming to say hello to the kids. That was really important to us,” she said. “This whole experience has felt very personal, and the Trojan Ambassadors giving the tours have all been wonderful. You don’t get this type of experience at other universities.”

Misti Anderson, a 1999 TROY graduate, traveled with her daughter, Alison, from North Carolina to show her daughter a piece of family history. Misti’s grandfather taught at TROY in the 50s, and her aunt and uncle were charter members of Phi Mu and Pi Kappa Phi. Her parents are also TROY grads who met at TROY.

Raised in Mobile, Ala., Misti said TROY was the right choice for her.

“For me, academically, this was a great school,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to South Alabama or the University of Alabama, and TROY worked out.”

While her mom studied communication, Alison has her sights set on nursing and appreciates the feel—and look—of the campus.

“I’m very excited to see the new College of Health and Human Services building once it’s complete,” she said. “But I like how the program seems very hands-on. They had dummies you can actually practice on instead of practicing on your friends.

“I really like the campus; it’s beautiful. I’m not really a big university-type person, and this feels very small town while also being a good-sized school.”

Not having visited since around 2005, Misti said it was special to have the chance to revisit memories made on campus and to share the experience with her daughter.

“The campus has changed, but it’s beautiful in the fact that it still holds a lot of the same features, architecturally,” she said. “So much is different, but so much is the same. The old phone booth is still there despite the construction going on right behind it, and one of my sorority sisters was proposed to right in that booth.

“It’s been very neat to share this experience with my daughter. It’s just amazing how much TROY has evolved, and to know that she likes it so much really makes me happy and think it’s a possibility. It’s a little far from home, but if she can see herself here, it’s nice to share that.”

All prospective students—for any TROY campus and online—are encouraged to participate. The event has been extended and application fees waived until 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, April 16.