Louie the Cardinal posed for photos. Cheerleaders greeted arriving families. Red-and-black balloons lined campus walkways as volunteers hauled boxes up stairwells and students said goodbye to parents in parking lots. It could only mean one thing: Move-In Day had arrived.
More than 4,600 students arrived on Belknap Campus this week for the 2026-27 academic year as classes begin Monday, Aug. 17.
Throughout the day on Aug. 13, President Gerry Bradley greeted students and families, offered a personal welcome to the newest members of the Cardinal community.
“Our new students are now a part of the 228-year legacy of higher education excellence that remains committed to building a better world,” Bradley said. “This time of year always brings renewed energy to our three campuses, and I can’t wait to hear the ideas and fresh perspectives our students picked up over the summer months.”
For first-year student Liliana Reynosa, a secondary education major in the College of Education and Human Development, move-in day brought excitement and anticipation. Affordability sealed her decision with the Border Benefit program playing a major role in Reynosa’s decision to attend UofL.
“UofL was cheaper than some of the options back home,” she said.
Dwayne Chambers drove in from Maysville to help his granddaughter, Larissa, move into Belknap Village South.
“It’s a new experience for her, and we are excited as a family,” Chambers said. “And really sad to have her leave us.”
Niyah Finley Hoard knew the feeling from the other side. Hoard, who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in May, returned to campus to help her younger sister move in.
“I didn’t really feel the need to give her advice because we are different people with different interests,” Hoard said. “I told her, ‘Oh, you’ve got it,’ but she can always come to me if she has questions.”
Move-in Day takes a campuswide effort. Nearly 690 volunteers, including current students, student organization members, faculty, staff and alumni, assisted new and returning students by unloading vehicles, directing traffic and helping families navigate campus.
Among them was Anna Derscha, a third-year student volunteering with Campus Recreation and Wellness as part of Cards Crew, a University Housing and Resident Experience initiative that coordinates the day-of support.
“I volunteered this year and last year because it’s important to make new students feel welcomed and help them start with a positive experience,” Derscha said. “A lot of students are nervous, so it’s nice for them to see a friendly face.”
The welcome doesn’t end once students are settled into their rooms. More than 70 Welcome Week events are lined up for new and returning students to meet classmates, explore campus and find their place in the Cardinal community.
