Students Settle into the Residence Halls

Every fall, the campus gets a fresh jolt of energy as the incoming freshman class moves into the University of Missouri-Kansas City residence halls. This year, students, parents — and anyone else who was willing to lend a hand — carried in the essential items that make up a good dorm room: carefully framed pictures, piles of clothes, and stacks of books. As they settled in, they shared their move-in day stories.

Tyler Arndt
Independence, Mo.
Major: Architecture
Why did you choose UMKC? I love the atmosphere. It’s a small school in a big city.
What’s the most sentimental item you packed? Probably my pillow made of my grandpa’s ties. My grandpa passed away when I was in the fifth grade, but he is still my idol. He worked in real estate, so the pillow is all of the ties that I used to see him wear when I was a child. It means a lot.
Did you bring Ramen Noodles? No, but that’s on my checklist.

Devin Reum
Nixa, Mo.
Major: Biology
Why did you choose UMKC? Kansas City. I was born in California, and I recently moved to small-town Missouri, so I missed the fast pace of a big city.
Did you forget to pack anything important? I almost forgot my pillow. We had to go back for it.

Eve Okine
St. Louis, Mo.
Major: Six-year medical program
How long did it take you to pack? About two days.
What’s the most sentimental item you brought with you? My blanket. I got it when I was playing Field Hockey. We all received one on senior night.
Did you forget anything important? A trash can.
Did you bring anything weird or quirky? [Laughs] A Justin Bieber CD.

Annabelle Gyngard
St. Louis, Mo.
Major: Dentistry
Why did you choose UMKC? It has the only dental school in Missouri.
How long did it take you to pack? I procrastinate, so of course I waited until the last minute. I was up until 2 a.m. last night.
Did you forget anything? Yes. I have this nice little chair that goes with my color scheme, and I forgot it at home. No comfy chair for me. Oh, and a laundry hamper.

Megan Ivy
Blue Springs, Mo.
Major: Six-year medical program
Why did you choose UMKC? I really liked the six-year med school program, and I’m a homebody, so I wanted to stay close to home.
How long did it take you to pack? It was a work in progress the whole summer.

Terrone Gardner
St. Louis, Mo.
Major: Nursing
What’s the most sentimental item you brought with you? My car, because my granny helped me pay for it.
Did you bring Ramen Noodles? Yes — a lot of flavors.
Did you forget anything important? [Laughs] Not to my knowledge…

Photo credit: Janet Rogers, Strategic Marketing and Communications.