Video, Photo Gallery: Volunteers, Beautiful Weather Greet Class of 2014 on Move-In Day

First-year students and their parents got a big surprise when they arrived on the Holy Cross campus for move-in day Aug. 28 — they barely had to lift a finger.

As in previous years, more than 200 volunteers, including student leaders, varsity athletes, faculty, staff, alumni, and even Holy Cross President Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., were on hand to haul boxes, bags, suitcases, and everything else they brought from home into their residence halls.

The Class of 2014 is composed of 728 students, 52 percent female and 48 percent male. Students rank in the top 8 percent of their high school class. The first-year class represents 34 states and 11 countries, and is the most diverse in history, with approximately 24 percent African-American, Latin American, Asian-American, and Native American (ALANA) students.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s continued into the afternoon for the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on the Hart Center Lawn to inaugurate the new academic year. Led by Fr. McFarland, the Holy Cross community welcomed members of the Class of 2014, transfer students and their families.

From Aug. 28 to Aug. 31, members of the Class of 2014 participated in a program of welcoming events, known as Fall Gateways Orientation. The events are designed to ease transition to college life by introducing students to the wide variety of academic, spiritual, community-building, and social programs available at the College. Students also have the chance to meet members of the faculty, administrators, and fellow classmates before classes began on Sept. 1.

Watch a video of move-in day (total time: 01:05) » View a photo gallery of move-in day and Mass of the Holy Spirit »