(L-R) Aatia Wills-Lee and Imani Turner. The journey to
Glenville took them a long way from their Washington, D.C. home
By Drew Moody
For the Hur Herald
Chilly temperatures and heavy fog greeted travelers arriving at Friday morning's Goodwin Hall check-in beginning at 7 a.m.
By early afternoon all but five of the 482 beds in the residence hall were filled.
One family's long pilgrimage began in the nation's capital. When Tonya Johnson parked her car near Goodwin Hall's entrance, just before 7 a.m., the fog was just beginning to lift. She was happy to finally arrive at Glenville State College, a world away from where her journey began.
A pre-school teacher in Alexandria, VA, Johnson brought her daughter, Imani Turner, and fellow incoming freshman Aatia Wills-Lee on the long trip to central West Virginia. Imani and Aatia graduated with the 2014 class of Washington, D.C.'s Dunbar High School. It's located less than a mile from the White House, Smithsonian Institution and National Gallery of Art.
One can only imagine Glenville must look like the far side of the moon to a pair of D.C."city girls." However, many former students have successfully made a similar transition saying GSC is one of the best things that ever happened to them, including former Lady Pioneers basketball star from Los Angeles, Autumn Davis.
Glenville State College electrician, Brian Hipp, and
others carry student's belongings into Goodwin Hall
Friday morning. Faculty and staff helping students
move into residence halls is a college tradition
Why Glenville State College?
The quality of GSC's criminal justice program is what convinced Imani to enroll. Her mother said no other college in the Mid-Atlantic region offers the hands-on practical criminal justice training available at Glenville State College. Imani plans on becoming a police detective, while Aatia is majoring in social work.
Friday's move-in was subdued and well-managed chaos. Continuing a tradition, faculty and staff helped unload cars, trucks and SUV's. For a few hours it was a seemingly endless procession
of bodies moving in and out of the dorm.
Two GSC students battle it out on the Clark Hall lawn
Saturday afternoon during a combat game known as 'Jugger'
Behind the scenes, long time GSC staffer and dorm director, Jerry Burkhammer monitored the activity and resolved minor issues as they arose. His crew of 21 resident assistants underwent extensive training preparing for the new school year including learning how to respond to a variety of situations as well understanding policies and protocols required by the college.
"My number one priority is making sure students feel safe and secure," Burkhammer said, Friday afternoon. All dormitory exits, except the front entrance, are kept locked at all times. Public areas throughout the building are monitored 24 hours a day with security cameras.
The first few weeks are typically the most difficult for new students. Burkhammer believes two necessary elements easing their transition are getting students involved and showing them the college cares about them. And since GSC carefully monitors class attendance, sometimes this means Burkhammer doesn't hesitate to knock on a few doors.
"We understand if they don't make it here they're going to struggle in life," Burkhammer said. "And hopefully that's what we're all about, trying to make a difference in people's lives."
Students first weekend on campus was filled with a variety of activities including a picnic and games on the Clark Hall lawn, entertainment by a mentalist Saturday night, and a comedy show
Sunday evening.
Classes for the 2014-15 school year began Monday.
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