“Saints” Work in Tandem to Help New Students Move Into Saint Martin’s

Move-in was quick thanks to help from upperclassmen, monks, faculty and staff.
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Move-in was quick thanks to help from upperclassmen, monks, faculty and staff.
Move-in was quick thanks to help from upperclassmen, monks, faculty and staff.

The start of back to school commenced at Saint Martin’s University on Friday, August 21, when incoming freshmen and other new students were greeted with arms wide open by the university community on Move-In Day. Students and their parents arrived on campus as early as 9:00 a.m. to start the move-in process. To make the transition happen without a hitch, they were assisted by upperclassmen, monks, staff and faculty.

Saint Martin’s Residence Director Heather Nicole Saladino was a tremendous help to parents and students who had concerns or questions. She was glad to see everyone working together to help the new residents acclimate to their new home.

“Orientation is very much a community process,” Saladino said. “We have folks from Campus Life — even the president and his wife are here. It’s really a group effort.”

Saint Martin’s prides itself on the personal attention it’s able to provide due to its smaller size.

“I know everyone’s name, literally,” Saladino said. “And it’s good to know the students personally so I can help them throughout the year.”

Pairing roommates based on their interests, majors and living habits was just one task of many in preparation for orientation. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work that orientation leaders accomplished beforehand to ensure the day went smoothly.

Orientation leaders, resident assistants and staff members alike worked together to help incoming students move in and find their way around campus.
Move-In Day is an opportunity for students to get settled and better acquainted with Saint Martin’s.

“Our leaders are gearing up for a really good year,” said Alyssa Melder ‘16, president of the Associated Students of Saint Martin’s University, the university’s elected student government. “They’re excited to get the first-year students all oriented to Saint Martin’s and to what it means to be a Saint.”

Orientation also serves as an opportunity for students to learn more about the university’s Benedictine identity.

“We have faith, reason, service and community. These are our core values,” Melder said. “To be a Saint is to live each and every one of those values out each and every day.” Melder said the new student convocation ceremony, also held last Friday, is what she most looks forward to during orientation. “I remember what it was like three years ago when I was in that seat. I remember what a life-changing experience that was, so I’m excited for this next class to embark on a brand new journey.”

Parent Karen Howsden was happy with the choice her daughter, Sarah, made to be a Saint.

“This is a wonderful school,” she said. “I like the community, how everyone works together and the atmosphere. The values they teach here are the values that I taught my daughter as she was growing up, so they’ll continue through into college, which is really important.”

An orientation leader gives a new student her “swag bag” and some useful information for upcoming orientation activities.
An orientation leader gives a new student her “swag bag” and some useful information for upcoming orientation activities.

Sarah chose Saint Martin’s because of its excellent program for aspiring mechanical engineers. She is most looking forward to studying physics and getting to know new people.

Sarah’s roommate, Julia Forza, is excited about her astronomy class, as well as participating in and watching various sports events throughout the school year.

California residents Lauren Diuco and her dad, Steve Diuco, found the move-in process to be quick, fun and accommodating.

“It’s really hectic, but I’ve met a lot of really cool people already,” Lauren said. “Everyone on the floor is pretty nice. Overall, everyone is super helpful and the transition has been easier because my family’s here.”

“My dad did most of the moving in,” she added with a sigh of relief.

“I like how they greeted us up front,” Steve Diuco said. “And I’m looking forward to the other activities going on that have been planned for Lauren.”

Lauren is the first child in the Diuco family to leave home for college. Her father said letting her go is “nerve-wracking.” but added, “I think she made a good choice with Saint Martin’s.”

Roommates Sarah Howsden and Julia Forza look forward to starting their classes and meeting new people this fall.
Roommates Sarah Howsden and Julia Forza look forward to starting their classes and meeting new people this fall.

For Lauren, the school is only a three-hour flight away from home. “It’s just the right amount of distance,” she said.

But for Steve, it’s a long 1,000-mile drive, so the two are planning on keeping in touch regularly via FaceTime and email.

Leaving a child behind at college can make parents anxious, but the Saint Martin’s staff and orientation leaders certainly made parents feel more at ease with the transition. By relieving the newcomers of some responsibilities and work, Saint Martin’s assured that families could spend more time enjoying one another’s company before parting.

 

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