Pueblo Students Begin New Chapter on Move-In Day

Across the residence halls, scenes of transition unfolded. Parents hauled boxes and belongings while their children—some confident, others visibly nervous—prepared to take their next step toward independence. The campus buzzed with activity as volunteers, including resident advisors like sophomore Emily Whitley, guided newcomers through the process.

"It's not as overwhelming and scary as it definitely sounds like and seems," Whitley, a 19-year-old nursing major, advised incoming students. As an RA experiencing dorm life for the first time herself, she understood the mixture of freedom and uncertainty that comes with living on campus. "You're not thrown into the deep end," she explained, describing college as "a good movement into the adult swim."

Isaac Maldonado (right) and his parent give the Wolfie sign as the take boxes from the dorms.

For some families, this move-in represented a second chance. The Lacey family from Colorado Springs made the short 45-minute drive to drop off their son Koryeon, who was transferring to CSU Pueblo from UNC Greeley to study cybersecurity. His mother, Keisha seemed relieved to have the first college drop-off behind them. "It feels great. We had practice before the tears were gone, so now this is like a starter school again," she said. "It's like a reset for everybody."

The emotional weight of the day was perhaps heaviest for Gabriel Garcia, who drove from Springfield to drop off his youngest daughter. As his family's last child to leave home, her departure marked the beginning of an empty nest. "It's kind of a weird feeling. I'm happy, but it's our last one," Garcia admitted, trying to maintain composure while clearly proud of his daughter's achievement.

Walking among the families throughout the morning was Interim President Rico Munn, making his presence felt as he greeted parents and students navigating this significant transition. His visibility demonstrated the university's commitment to making families feel welcomed during what can be an overwhelming day.

Not all students were venturing far from home. Some, like the granddaughter of local resident Mickey, who had recently moved to Pueblo from the small Colorado town of Saguache, were staying close to family while pursuing their education. Her choice to study criminology represented new opportunities while maintaining valuable family connections.

As the morning progressed and the heat intensified, the steady stream of cars, boxes, and nervous energy continued. Later that afternoon, the day would culminate in CSU Pueblo's new student convocation tradition—a ceremonial welcome where new students and their families walk from the ThunderBowl to Fountain Plaza while faculty and staff approach from the opposite direction near the university's iconic image, symbolically embracing the newest members of the Pack family.