UK welcomes students to campus during Big Blue Move-In 2024
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 23, 2024) — The University of Kentucky is welcoming more than 8,000 new and returning Wildcats to their residence halls this week. Nearly 85% are first-year students who will live on campus.
“We know that when students live on campus – particularly the first year – they do better academically,” said Lisa Williams, director of housing in UK’s Auxiliary Services. “They acclimate more quickly to life on campus. They become involved in student life and organizations. They are more likely, as a result, to graduate on time. We are excited about what these students and newest members of our Wildcat community will bring to our campus.”
More than 6,000 students participated in Fall 2024 Big Blue Move-In, which took place Aug. 18-21, prior to the beginning of K Week, which is currently taking place before classes start, Aug. 26. K Week offers programs and events designed to help incoming freshmen meet new people and learn about UK traditions and resources.
“Move-in makes me so excited to start at the university and meet new friends,” said Ali Esposito, an incoming freshman from Bergen County, New Jersey, who moved into her residence hall on Monday. “Move-in ran smoothly and I am grateful for all the help.”
Sam Gade, an incoming freshman from Chicago, Illinois, who also moved in on Monday, shares the same sentiments about making new friends as he starts his journey as a Wildcat.
“I’m excited to be on campus,” he said. “The campus is beautiful and the atmosphere is awesome. The next four years are going to be amazing.”
Big Blue Move-In would not be possible without the help of approximately 600 volunteers, including more than 400 student volunteers — the highest number of students ever to assist with move-in.
“I have been at the university for 22 years and I help every year and love it,” said Bobbie Tincher, a controls engineering manager for UK. “Myself and other volunteers love to welcome the students and talk to the parents. Sometimes they can be upset but we try to reassure them that their student will do great in their new home. We try to add a personable touch to move-in.”
Beth Bradley, a mom from Arlington, Tennessee, helping move her son Ethan in, was one of the countless parents grateful for the help.
“Once we got to the move-in location everything was super easy,” Bradley said. “Our car was unloaded in under minute and we were impressed with how smoothly it went. We also met the president of the university so that was fun,” she said. “I know Ethan will have a great freshman year, and I want to say, ‘Good luck and enjoy your time as a Wildcat.’”
In addition to being greeted by friendly volunteers, those moving in had access to hydration stations, provided by Auxiliary Services, UK Sustainability and UK Recycling. The stations provided chilled, filtered water and reusable water bottles to those participating in move-in.
Find more information about Big Blue Move-In here and view the gallery below to see some favorite scenes from this year’s Big Blue Move-In.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.