Class of 2025 Moves In, Returns to More Traditional Experience

The process for first-year students more closely resembled a traditional Lehigh move-in experience, although some precautions remained in place due to COVID-19. For a second straight year, a drive-through check-in was held for all students outside Iacocca Hall on the Mountaintop Campus. Two lanes of vehicles passed in front of a large tent where Lehigh staff members were able to check students in and provide them with room keys. From there, students headed to their dorms on the Asa Packer Campus to unpack and get a first glance at their residence halls.

In a change from last August, there was no longer a limit on the number of family members allowed to assist with move-in and family members were allowed to stay on campus even after their student’s check-in time block ended.

“Parents and families have been incredibly understanding and cooperative about this process,” Ozzie Breiner, director of Residential Services at Lehigh, said. “They unfortunately have to unload their own vehicles—we usually provide assistance—but because of the pandemic they're moving their own sons and daughters in. They understand it, and they're working quickly to create parking for the next group coming in, so it's really working out extremely well.”

“It’s good to see there’s a lot of people here,” said Montenegro, who made the trip from Fair Lawn, N.J., with his parents and two brothers. “I was very worried with COVID if things were going to go back to at least what they used to be, because everything changed. But I’m glad to see this many people so I’m definitely excited. I’m looking forward to what’s coming.”

Daniela Collins ’25, of Allentown, Pa., had one of the quicker trips among students moving in this week. The short distance between home and campus helped her procrastinate—she didn’t start packing until 1 a.m. the morning she moved in— but she said it left her stressed and exhausted while unpacking and setting up her room. Although, she had help from her brother, boyfriend and mom, Elsa, as she settled into McClintic–Marshall.

“On the ride to campus [Wednesday] morning, I was excited and curious about the future ahead of me,” Collins said. “The thought of me going to college didn’t really set in until then. That thought quickly became a reality once I started unpacking in my new home. The homesick and fearful tears haven’t started yet, but doesn’t mean they won’t.”

For Elsa, director of Trustee Nominations and Stewardship at Lehigh, her daughter moving into college began to sink in getting in the car to drive to Lehigh after Collins’ goodbye breakfast with her high school friends. “In my head was the dreaded feeling of ‘we’re forgetting something,’” she said, “and the inevitable ‘oh my God, it is really happening. She’s going to college.’”

Once their vehicle parked outside Collins’ new home, Elsa said she was so focused on unpacking she was no longer thinking about how she was feeling, but the emotions returned when she said her goodbyes and left her daughter in her dorm.

Collins' roommate, Maya Miserlian ’25, of Centennial, Colo., arrived in Bethlehem on Tuesday, moved into her room on Wednesday and was just as ready to get started at Lehigh.

"While I was flying over here and moving in I was thinking about how excited I am to start this new chapter of my life," Miserlian said.

Starting her trip in Olathe, Kan., Bailey Flanagan ’25 began the drive to campus at 4 a.m. Tuesday, with her parents, and arrived in Bethlehem Wednesday night. Though she felt nervous after arriving in Bethlehem after the long drive, she said she felt better Thursday morning as her parents helped her unload their van and physically move her into the Centennial II Complex.

“It’s all a little overwhelming, but it’s exciting,” Flanagan said.