Barry McNamara  |  Published August 17, 2017

Welcome, Freshmen!

Nearly 200 on hand help members of Class of 2021 move into their residence halls
Members of the Class of 2021 get a hand as they arrive on campus on Saturday.
Members of the Class of 2021 get a hand as they arrive on campus on Saturday.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – At 9:30 on a cloudless, mild Saturday morning, 16 eager red-shirted Monmouth College student workers lined the circle drive between Fulton Hall and Graham Hall, waiting for new arrivals. After a few moments, red-clad members of the football team blended into the ranks.

Soon, a silver pickup pulled into the drive, carrying the belongings of incoming freshman MacKenzie Baker of Aledo, Ill.

In less than five minutes, the truck’s contents, including a refrigerator, totes, pillows and hanging clothes, had been carried to their proper room in Fulton Hall.

“She loves it here – she couldn’t wait to get here,” said MacKenzie’s mother, Angie Baker.

Mackenzie is familiar with the campus, as her older sister, Michaela, is a senior at Monmouth.

“It’s beautiful today,” said Angie. “When Michaela moved in three years ago, it was pouring down rain.”

MacKenzie plans to be a member of the Fighting Scots track team and investigate kinesiology as a major.

Across campus, another new student was moving in. Prospective business major Dakota Welsh, who played basketball for Monmouth-Roseville High School, was welcomed by members of the Ninth Street move-in brigade, including one of his future Fighting Scots teammates, Paul Engo III.

“I’m really excited about it,” said Welch of starting his new adventure at Monmouth. “I liked that Monmouth is local, not too far from home.”

As the College’s carillon struck 10 a.m., a dozen cars were lined up along Ninth Street, with students moving into Winbigler, Grier, Cleland and Liedman halls. President Dr. Clarence R. Wyatt was among the helpers, carrying a mini-fridge to a second-floor room in Grier.

In a normal year, Monmouth’s residence life staff and orientation leaders are enough to handle the move-in chores, but this year several athletic teams were involved, including more than 100 players from the football team.

“I thought it would make a tremendous positive impact on this freshmen class moving in to have our guys out there helping,” said Chad Braun, who is now in his third year as head football coach. “I have been extremely proud of the character and work ethic of this team to this point. We have great leadership from our upperclassmen.”

The football players were among the first students to return to campus for the fall semester, arriving Aug. 8. Also on campus for several days now have been other fall sports athletes, residence life staff, orientation leaders, members of Greek life organizations and the Fighting Scots Marching Band, and students participating in Summer Opportunity for Intellectual Activity (SOFIA).

In total, about 200 Monmouth students helped freshmen move in, according to Director of Campus Safety Andy Davis, who was making the rounds on a golf cart to ensure that move-in was running smoothly.

Nearby, Guillermo Hernandez sat on a wall outside of Grier Hall, taking a few moments to rest and soak in the atmosphere of the campus. His daughter, Aracely Hernandez, is a freshman from Chicago.

“It’s nice, it’s beautiful here,” he said. “This was the best selection for her.”

See More …

One of the first campus events members of the Class of 2021 participated in was the solar eclipse viewing on Aug. 21, held in front of the Center for Science and Business.

Solar Eclipse Viewing -- August 21, 2017

Back to News & Events

Did you know?

  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 99% of Monmouth students received some type of scholarship or financial assistance.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/offices/student-financial-planning/types-of-aid/scholarships/" target="_blank">Scholarships</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p><strong>Monmouth College is the birthplace of the women’s fraternity movement. Pi Beta Phi, the first such collegiate women’s organization, was founded at Monmouth in 1867. It was followed three years later by Kappa Kappa Gamma. The two pioneering organizations today boast a total of 275 active chapters nationwide.</strong></p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/student-life/sororities-fraternities/" target="_blank">Sororities & Fraternities</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers unique academic minors in Global Public Health and Global Food Security for students who want to use their education to address global challenges. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-public-health/" target="_blank">Global Public Health</a></li><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-food-security/" target="_blank">Global Food Security</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an educational garden and 6.7 acre farm. Students grow and harvest fruits and vegetables to sell at the local farmer’s market. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/academics/only-at-monmouth/educational-garden-farm/" target="_blank">Garden & Farm</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College is proudly test optional. Applicants may choose whether or to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission and scholarship consideration. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/admission/apply/test-optional/" target="_blank">Test Optional</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers several international trips each year during 2-week Scots Terms in January and May. Recently students have traveled to Botswana, Greece, Scotland, Japan, and more. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/offices/global-engagement/" target="_blank">Scots Term</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 98% of Monmouth graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/wackerle-center/career-services/" target="_blank">Career Preparation</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We offer a certified Peace Corps Preparation program that gives Peace Corps bound graduates a leg up in the application process.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/peace-corps-prep/" target="_blank">Peace Corps Prep</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We’re no stranger to winning. Last year the Fighting Scots won Midwest Conference championships in Football, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Men’s Track and Field. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthscots.com/" target="_blank">Fighting Scots</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College covers the cost for all current students to get a U.S. passport. Unlock access to over 198 different countries! We’ll even help with the paperwork :)</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/study-abroad/" target="_blank">Study Abroad</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an active Pipe & Drum Band. Each year on Scholar’s Day in April the bagpipers wake students up at 6:00 a.m. by playing in the residence halls!</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/music/pipe-band/" target="_blank">Pipe Band</a></li></ul></div></aside>