An eager and excited Class of 2027—and all of their creature comforts—descended on Farmville this week ready to make their mark on Longwood and begin their next life chapter. There was palpable anticipation along with some natural trepidation as incoming freshmen and their families arrived on campus to settle into their new home away from home and embark on their college experience.
The two-day freshman move-in experience in sweltering mid-August heat and humidity is traditionally marked by a mix of perspiration, hugs, tears, photos and emotions. This year was no different with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s and freshmen—and their helpers—learning valuable lessons in sweat equity.
The unloading areas outside of Moss and Johns halls—the high-rise residence halls on the east side of campus—and Sharp and Register halls on the west side, where the majority of freshmen live, were humming as residence life staff, Peer Mentors and Longwood staff helpers greeted new Lancers hauling boxes and bags overflowing with college life essentials. Among the items being pushed on carts and carried in well-packed storage totes were fans, furniture, minifridges, mirrors, musical instruments, crates of snacks and sentimental reminders of home. The line for the elevators in Moss Hall reached out the door by mid-day Wednesday and Thursday, but overall, the process ran smoothly.
I’m really looking forward to finding new opportunities, like new jobs and internships.
Jordan Greene ’27 Tweet This
By Thursday afternoon, roommates and nursing majors Jordan Greene ’27 from Danville and Maryjan Vicente ’27 from Falls Church had unpacked, hung waterfall lights and special reminders of home, and were settled into their cozy third-floor corner room in Johns Hall. Vicente noted that the Peer Mentors had been very helpful during the move-in process.
“I’m really looking forward to finding new opportunities, like new jobs and internships,” she said. Greene added that while starting college would be an adjustment, she was excited about starting down the path to her chosen career.
New friends, new experiences and a new home for the next four years await the almost 1,000 new students Longwood is welcoming to campus this fall. The incoming freshman class is among the most talented and academically gifted and diverse in university history. Class members have been leaders in their high schools and respective hometowns, and are passionate about improving their communities.
The Class of 2027 paints an impressive picture academically, with 61 percent having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The class includes at least five high school valedictorians, and more than 100 students were in the top 10 percent of their high schools’ graduating class. Twenty-eight percent of the students identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color, and 5 percent are coming from out of state.
The Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars is welcoming 144 new students, who arrived on campus a week early for the annual honors college retreat. More than 15 percent of the incoming CHC freshmen were ranked in the top 10 of their high-school class.
The Honors College freshmen moved in on Sunday and began a four-day retreat on Monday.
“I’m looking forward to making new friends and new experiences,” said Kennedy Sonnier ’27, a business major from Goochland, as she arrived to move into her second-floor room in Moss on Wednesday. “I’m also excited about my classes and getting to learn new things.”
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