![A person sits in their lofted bed in a dorm room.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4F99-DE45-E594-C6294B4B90CF5DBA/600.jpg)
Grand Valley community welcomes more than 5,200 Lakers to campus
![A person sits in their lofted bed in a dorm room.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4F99-DE45-E594-C6294B4B90CF5DBA/600.jpg)
Thousands of students are moving to campus this week, meeting their roommates and hanging decorations.
More than 5,200 Lakers will move into on-campus housing before classes begin August 30. President Philomena V. Mantella greeted students, parents and supporters as they arrived on the Allendale Campus.
“It's great to see campus coming to life as students move into their living centers," Mantella said. "It's such an exciting time to be at Grand Valley.”
![President Mantella shaking hands with a person with two other people standing near by.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4DAA-A2C0-B98D-BD1FFD9FE41AB822/600.jpg)
Volunteers are a key part of move-in and they have been out in force to help haul belongings and answer questions. The Helping Hands program organized by Housing and Residence Life includes students, faculty, staff members, administrators and alumni.
Move-in continues through August 25; also on that day, Transitions, GVSU's orientation program for new students, will begin.
The week concludes with Convocation, which will commemorate the start of the new academic year. This year's ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. August 27 at the Fieldhouse Arena on the Allendale Campus. Face coverings will be required for all in attendance.
![Three people carry belongings up steps to dorm.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4E13-AE33-E958-6B9C019CD5B6D841/600.jpg)
![Two blue bins with the words "gvsu housing" written on them hold students belongings outside of a living center.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/B9B21947-98EB-E97C-1119A311841B98C2/600.jpg)
![Two people wheel suitcases next to a living center building.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4ECA-F18E-14FA-6F6EB0EBC364192A/600.jpg)
![A person sits next to belongings on the side of the road](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4F31-D268-3107-B5B4FE5C27BCC70F/600.jpg)
![Two people in face coverings stand next to a sign that reads "International House"](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD4FF6-EB03-FE9B-1F90FD98CCD8A6F1/600.jpg)
![Many cars line up in a parking lot.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD5056-FAEF-7033-4E811E94273FF127/600.jpg)
![Two people holding signs that read "Honk 4 Laker Familia" and "Welcome Laker Familia"](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/98AD5136-D920-BE13-F5EA456F15716F0A/600.jpg)
![Student is photographed through the reflection of a mirror that is sitting in a pile of a student's belongings.](/gvnext/files/img/article/96D824BC-012F-DB8E-64CA6086C22B3360/B9B2198B-EB77-4E14-6280374821FD82CA/600.jpg)
Subscribe
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.