Excitement is high around campus as the rest of the freshmen and returning students will be running to and from their cars and the dorms, moving boxes, seeing new friends and hugging their parents’ goodbye. This weekend, Averett University is welcoming the largest freshmen class the University has ever enrolled. The class of 385 students is made up of 297 freshmen, 81 transfers and seven re-admits. Previously, 337 was the largest, which was reached in 2010 and again in 2012.
Many athletic students have already arrived this week and last, and returning student will be back Sunday.
“Coach Doino made me feel like I was at home,” Averett freshmen and basketball student-athlete Isaiah Jones said. When asked what it was about Averett he was most excited for, Jones answered, “expanding my knowledge.”
The orientation leaders greeted students at the Student Center Friday morning, in the front of the multipurpose room. Then 
students walked around the room, checking in at different stations including financial aid, residence life and health and wellness – where they could register for a discounted student membership at the Danville Family YMCA. Then students went to security to get their Student I.D. and after that, it was time to move into their dorm.
“It’s new for me as well, I’m out of my comfort zone but I know why they chose Averett because I know why I chose Averett,” Orientation Leader Jamal Forney said as he checked student’s in. “I’ve been here for four-and-a-half years and it’s been a blessing. That’s why I came back to Averett, so I could give back and help the students.”
Over the summer, several updates were made to the residence halls, including part of Main Hall. There is now a longue space for students, and rooms have been re-opened – rooms that haven’t been used in years. Averett’s Dean of Students Lesley Villarose says this year the dorms are at full capacity.
“We are really looking forward to the new year. There are a lot of new and exciting things happening for our students and we are happy to support them,” said Villarose. “We have made some changes, such as adding additional staff to support our students, and we feel prepared moving into this new school year.”
The incoming class is made up of students from 16 states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia – and 15 countries – Canada, Bahamas, Australia, United Kingdom, Georgia, Brazil, Netherlands, Norway, Jamaica, Spain, Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark and Sweden.
