Paul Smith of Vienna said the move-in process was very smooth. “Came in. We parked, dumped everything on the curb, and I left so the next person could come in,” he said. (Photo by Emily Faith Morgan, University Communications)
Bearing license plates from Virginia, Alabama, Pennsylvania and even Colorado, cars began pulling up to the University of Virginia’s dorms early Thursday morning as the Cavalier Marching Band blasted AC/DC’s “Back in Black” during a practice session in Scott Stadium.
It was Day 1 of a two-day mass move-in of nearly 4,000 first-year students, and it began with surprisingly mild temperatures for August in Central Virginia – a tolerable 76 degrees.
Things moved smoothly at Shannon House as family cars flowed in and out of parking spots, welcomed by a fleet of UVA Greeters, student and staff volunteers at the ready with empty carts that families would soon fill with mini fridges, microwaves, televisions and suitcases.
Grace Varrieur’s dad Andrew helps unpack. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
Grace Varrieur, a first-year student from Arlington, said her brother graduated from UVA in 2020, making the University “already a home away from home.”
With Grace all moved in, Varrieur’s parents, Andrew and Caroline, are officially empty-nesters. Asked how she felt about that, Mom answered with one word: “Excited.”
Nazireh Farachrojo, a second-year doctoral student from Texas, helped the Varrieurs move Grace in. “Making people feel welcome is very important to me,” she said.
One floor up, Justin Smith of Vienna was having an extra special day. It was his 18th birthday and he and his parents, Cynthia and Paul, were nearly done unpacking. They had something in common with the Varrieurs – with Justin flying the nest they, too, would return to an empty house. “Wonderful” was the word Paul used to describe this new phase of life.
Nazireh Farachroj, a second-year doctoral student from Texas, volunteered to help students move in. (Photo by Emily Faith Morgan, University Communications)
The Smiths felt incredibly prepared, they said, because of the parent community on the “University of Virginia Parents – Class of 2027” Facebook page, a parent-run group. “You can ask any question and no question is stupid,” Cynthia said, pointing out a list of move-in suggestions UVA Today turned into a story on the eve of their own move-in. “Very helpful,” she said.
The Smiths also had high praise for Housing & Residence Life’s move-in process, saying it was expertly executed. “Came in. We parked, dumped everything on the curb, and I left so the next person could come in,” Paul said. “If you did that, it made it easier for everyone coming behind you, and that was the case when we got here.”
“I want to do a shout-out to the volunteers,” Cynthia said. “I want to shout out to Lysander and shout out to Catherine and her partner, whose name we didn’t get. They were outstanding.”
Son Justin said he’s excited to start his life at UVA. An accomplished trombonist who was a member of the National Youth Orchestra this summer, he’s planning to audition for UVA’s orchestra this fall.
Justin Smith celebrated his 18th birthday in his new dorm room on Thursday. (Photo by Erin Edgerton, University Communications)
On another floor, Songhan Pang was stationed right outside the elevators to welcome her new charges. She is one of nine residence advisers in Shannon House this year. “My R.A. was amazing last year, and I just really want to give back that same energy and support that she gave to us, to these new students coming in this year,” she said.
She said she’s already prepared her remarks for her first hall meeting with residents. One of her ice breakers? “I'm going to ask them a few questions. The first one is, ‘If you were an animal, what animal would you be?’ And the second one is, ‘What is your biggest pet peeve?’”
Songhan Pang decided she wanted to be a residence adviser because her first-year R.A. was so welcoming. (Photo by Erin Edgerton, University Communications)
The animal question is just for fun, said Pang, who said she would be a pangolin because they are cute. The pet peeve question is one her R.A. asked residents last year. “I feel like it’s not only a way to share some laughs, but also kind of understand some of the expectations that we have for each other and respecting each other’s boundaries,” she said.
Eli Bare and his mother, Lee, were nearly done unpacking in his room on the fifth floor. They’d driven up from Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday. Eli wants to study aerospace engineering and said he’s looking forward to meeting new people.
Lee said she and her husband planned to stay in Charlottesville until Saturday morning. “So that way we don’t have to say goodbye today,” she said.
Lee Bare and her husband drove their son, Eli, to UVA from Alabama. (Photo by Erin Edgerton, University Communications)
The big move-in continues Friday, when students in the second half of the class take their places. Official “Wahoo Welcome” activities began Thursday and continue for six weeks.
Dao Tran, the senior resident of Hancock and Bonnycastle Houses, said she’s excited to welcome the residents. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
Christina Loccke, Mirabelle Johnson and Tom Johnson are from New Jersey. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
