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

The community is invited to attend this special night of music. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are available for $10 per person at the door. Groups of 10 or more are $8/ticket in advance. Contact Josh Pierce, director of student life, at joshua.pierce@hlg.edu for a group discount. The event is free for students with a valid HLGU ID.

The Gray Havens centers on husband and wife Dave and Licia Radford. Since their beginning in 2013, their projects have been hailed as 鈥渁n imaginative treatment of faith鈥having] a visionary quality that鈥檚 both playful and enraptured.鈥� They have a knack for creating a listening experience similar to paging through your favorite book, with richly textured compositions and multi-layered lyrics. Releasing their debut EP on Noisetrade in 2013, and their first full-length album, Fire and Stone, in 2015, the duo has gained a steady following of listeners nationwide.

Their newest release, “Ghost of a King,” debuted at #3 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts, rewarding listeners with immersive soundscapes and lyrical imagination. From poetic 鈥� almost Shakespearean 鈥� imagery to grand epics fit for darkened concert halls, to pop music infused with loops and infectious beats, the album possesses a remarkable range. In the context of that refreshing variety, the album stays cohesive thanks to its exploration of the human condition of longing.

Today, The Gray Havens are making the most well-crafted music of their career. Their next highly anticipated full-length album is expected to release in 2018.

For more information, contact Josh Pierce, director of student life, at 573-629-3014, or via email at joshua.pierce@hlg.edu.

The Trojan Army is an annual move-in tradition at HLGU and is always a tremendous blessing to new students and especially 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 and Stacy 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 the morning in university breakout sessions with their new classmates. A movie party was held later that evening. Students were able to spend time together in an effort to help foster new friendships. Saturday night, a 鈥淏attle of Troy鈥� dodgeball match was held.

HLGU鈥檚 New Student Orientation Saturday activities included time for the freshmen teams to participate in the 鈥淨uest for the Trojan Horse鈥� scavenger hunt. This fun activity takes place every year on Main Street so freshmen and incoming students can learn all Hannibal has to offer.

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.

On Monday, August 21, HLGU students volunteered around Hannibal in the 14^th Annual Hannibal Helping Hands, a series of community service projects.聽This year, nearly 200 students went out into the Hannibal community and performed approximately 400 hours of community service. Projects included painting, weeding, washing, organizing, and cleaning for various Hannibal businesses and churches including Hannibal Free Public Library, Graceful Beginnings Daycare, the Hannibal Museum, the Nutrition Center, area churches, and many others.

Later on Monday, an eclipse party was held. Those without proper eye protection were able to experience the event streamed live in the Parker Theatre.

Classes began on Tuesday, August 22, and on Wednesday, Dr. Allen welcomed all students back to campus and to HLGU鈥檚 annual Convocation Chapel.

鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful today for each student that鈥檚 here that has accepted the challenge to engage in the pursuit of knowledge, and we鈥檙e equally grateful for the distinguished faculty who have dedicated themselves and their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and the calling of teaching and instruction,鈥� said Dr. Allen.

鈥淎n investment in your education is an investment in your future,鈥� he told the students. 鈥淚 know some of you are making an incredible sacrifice to be here. Let me encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity that you have before you.鈥�

Dr. Miles Mullin, vice president for academic administration, led the students in reciting HLGU鈥檚 Honor Code and Mr. John Francis, assistant professor of music and worship, led the congregation in singing a hymn. Additional music was provided by Instructor of Music Ben Kendall, a new addition to the HLGU Music Department.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12