Student ambassadors, resident advisors, and the Trojan Army, along with faculty and staff, welcomed over 150 new students to campus. Move-In Day was different than previous years with a drive-in check-in process to encourage social distancing. Masks were required for all students, guests, and volunteers, and hand sanitizer was available at each move-in station.

The Trojan Army is an annual move-in tradition at HLGU and is always a tremendous blessing to new students and their parents. Their motto, 鈥渨e move so you don鈥檛 have to,鈥� fits their service well.

Will Brantley, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said, 鈥淲e are grateful the Lord has blessed our campus with these new students and are excited to see them grow in their time at HLGU.鈥�

New Student Orientation began at 4:30 pm on the 20^th with the Walk of Honor. The Walk of Honor is a beloved tradition where new students, led by a bagpiper and the Trojan mascot, walk through crowds of faculty, staff, student leaders, and their families, through the Arch, and are greeted by University President, Dr. Anthony Allen and welcomed into the HLGU family. This walk of honor signifies the beginning of their HLGU journey. At graduation, these same students will walk out of the arch to signify the end of their HLGU journey.

Students then gathered around the Trinity Tree, located between the L.A. Foster Student Center and the Burt Administration Building, for a final word of encouragement, the alma mater, and a prayer of dedication.

The weekend was full of events for NSO to help acclimate new students to campus and featured the introduction of HLGU traditions to new students, making new friends and embracing what it means to be a Trojan. Although Move-in Day and NSO looked a little different this year with new safety procedures in place due to COVID-19, the community and Trojan spirit was alive and well.

These days marked the return of students to campus for the first time since mid-March, when the University transitioned to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.聽 Since mid-March, the University has worked diligently to establish procedures and protocols to follow CDC guidelines, best practices, and public health recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Brantley said, 鈥淭his semester will be different than any experienced before, however we have prayed, planned, and prepared the best we know how and are confident the Lord will richly bless HLGU and our students this year.鈥�

Wednesday morning, HLGU President Dr. Anthony Allen welcomed all students back to campus and to HLGU鈥檚 annual Convocation Chapel, a special chapel event that opens the school year.

鈥淓ducation is a great equalizer, and knowledge is power. No matter your beginning, you are on the road to making your dreams come true,鈥� he said. 鈥淵our world is limitless, your course is still unwritten, and your path is ripe with promise.鈥�

Dr. Allen continued, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e getting ready to embark on one of the greatest adventures of your life. I call this the academic adventure. No one knows for certain what the future holds, but take heart, God knows your future鈥ake the most of every opportunity God has given you and he will direct your path.鈥�

Also during Convocation Chapel, Dr. Miles Mullin II, vice president for academic administration, led the students in reciting HLGU鈥檚 Honor Code, and Mr. Ben Kendall led the congregation in the hymn, 鈥淗oly, Holy, Holy.鈥�

Those passing by HLGU on Thursday, August 16 likely witnessed the arrival of new students who were warmly greeted by Dr. Allen as they drove in the main entrance. From there, the new students were led to their residence halls where they were welcomed with music, cheers, and eager returning students 鈥� the Trojan Army 鈥� ready to serve the new students and their parents by unloading their cars and moving the students into their new homes.

The Trojan Army is an annual move-in tradition at HLGU and is always a tremendous blessing to new students and their parents. Their motto, 鈥渨e move so you don鈥檛 have to,鈥� fits their service well.

Once settled into their dorm rooms, the new students and parents had free time to explore the campus and finish up any last minute paperwork. Mid-afternoon, the new HLGU students gathered in the Mabee Sports Complex where they met with their new student orientation team leaders and played icebreaker games in an effort to meet new friends and bond with their team.

While the new students met in the Mabee Sports Complex, parents were gathered in the Roland Fine Arts Center where they heard from the administration. A Q&A session took place to answer questions parents had on their minds.

At 5:00 pm, parents, family, the Trojan Army, and resident advisors, along with faculty and staff of HLGU, lined the sidewalk from the Roland Fine Arts Center to the HLGU arch in preparation for the Walk of Honor.

A bagpiper led the new students along the path of cheering spectators, encouraging the students on their new journey.聽After each new student passed through the HLGU arch, President Allen welcomed them again with a handshake and a smile.

Students then gathered around the Trinity Tree, located between the L.A. Foster Student Center and the Burt Administration Building, for a final word of encouragement, the alma mater, and a prayer of dedication.

On Friday, the new students spent a fun morning and afternoon continuing to get to know one another and start developing bonds of friendship while playing laid-back games of basketball, walleyball, and indoor soccer, and then yard games like corn hole, hacky sack, and Frisbee, pausing the games occasionally for everyone to tell a fun fact about themselves.

The NSO teams ventured to downtown Hannibal on Saturday for the annual scavenger hunt. This fun activity takes place on and around Main Street every year, giving new students the chance to learn about all that Hannibal has to offer.

Saturday also held a couple new and exciting events. All of the new students were divided up into small groups and hosted for dinner at the homes of HLGU faculty and staff, giving the students a glimpse of the strong bond of family and community they can receive at HLGU. The evening culminated on campus with a fun variety show. Each NSO team performed on stage using the various talents of the new students and their team leaders.

On Sunday, the students started their day by choosing an area worship service to attend. That afternoon students enjoyed visiting the HLGU Activities Fair. This special event allowed the new students to find out more about area churches, activities, and clubs they could choose to become involved with on and around campus.

Additional activities held to welcome students back to campus include dorm parties, a s鈥檓ores night, a concert featuring the Gray Havens, a large game of capture the flag, and sand volleyball games.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12