ADA, Ohio (WLIO) -Â As more than 700 first-year students set foot on Ohio Northern University, upperclassmen with Klondike's Crew met them at their cars to help them move in.
Klondike's Crew, named after the school's mascot, is made up of volunteers from ONU who spent Wednesday morning moving items to students' dorms, giving directions and cheering on students as they prepared for their first full day on campus.
Crew members said helping students creates a welcoming atmosphere and assures them that connecting with people on campus is easy.
"It's nice to see a friendly face when you come into the college," said Dean Altstaetter, senior assistant director of admissions.
"We've worked with them all year, so some of the students have also met them when they were here. It's just nice when it feels like home when you're moving in, and that's what we want. We want that kind of atmosphere created."
"Giving that first impression and that connection initially will help newer students feel more connected at the school and have someone to know," said sophomore Ethan Bonus. "Since it's a smaller school, it's very easy to make friends, it's very easy to know everyone who goes here."
Evan Sterling, a first-year nursing student at ONU, said Klondike's Crew helped ease him into his first day.
"It's great, I mean to have all the help and support is a good way to start out," said Sterling. "I'm excited, a little bit nervous but ready to go."
Melissa Baumann, the university's president, said its goal is to make students feel welcomed, help foster growth, and connect them to the community around Ada.
"They're an individual. We want each one of them to make their home here, and we want to do all we can to help them succeed academically and socially so that by the time they graduate, they go on to great careers and they miss us," said Baumann.
Baumann advised incoming students to not be afraid to reach out and expand their horizons by joining clubs and going to athletic events.
