Clad in green T-shirts, Blue Hen Helpers are upper-class students who volunteer to assist new students and their families carry boxes and bags to their rooms.

Bobby Cathell, a sophomore studying biological sciences, said he remembered how stressful move-in was.

“I’m helping people move into the dorm that I stayed at,” Cathell said. “So it feels pretty good giving back and being able to help somebody else’s move-in experience.”

First-year student Nate Hubbs, 18, came to UD from York, Pennsylvania, and he is planning to major in engineering.

“Yesterday, it just hit me, ‘Wow I have one day left,’ but it feels great to be here,” Hubbs said.

Hubbs’ family helped him unpack his belongings and get settled. His mother, Kristi Kehr, said Hubbs is her first child to go to college.

“I know he’s going to do well, but I wish him the best of luck,” she said. “Have fun and keep your head up.”

Dennis and Eleni Assanis met Adriana Lopez and her family inside her residence hall room. Lopez, 18, from Sussex County, Delaware, is sharing a room with her best friend, Kaylee Mason. Lopez said they’ve known each other for more than 10 years.

“I feel really happy,” Lopez said. “I’m excited to see what this next chapter in my life brings.”

The Assanises also stopped by to meet Sean Sullivan and his family. Sullivan, 19, from Garden City, New York, said move-in was overwhelming, but he was happier once he finished unpacking. He chose UD because the University has a pre-veterinary major, and he is familiar with the campus because his sister is a junior at the University.

“I was looking at other colleges that had pre-professional tracks, which is not really a major,” Sullivan said. “This was kind of the only college that had a hands-on program that would boost your acceptance into a vet school.”

Bianca Asencio, 18, from Saddle Brook, New Jersey, also found move-in day to be a bit hectic.

“A lot of my family members wanted to come and everybody has different opinions about where everything should go,” Asencio said. “But I’m having a lot of fun.”

The Assanises also met with Ashley Hangstefer, a first-year student from Milford, Delaware. They talked about her love of fishing and dreams to one day do research and tag fish.

Hangstefer’s roommate, Bryn Kolmansberger, said she was excited to finally move in. She connected with Hangstefer during the summer, so they are excited to start living together.

“I’m happy to get all of the stuff that I bought over the last couple of months out of my house and into the space that I’m going to be living in, but it’s pretty nerve-wracking because there are so many new people and new everything,” Kolmansberger said.

Assanis also met Aliyah Wade and her family from Bowie, Maryland. Her father, A.J. Wade, said he is proud of his daughter and happy for her that she is at UD.

“I’m excited,” A.J. Wade said. “I told her that this is her rite of passage toward adulthood. I’m ready to watch from a distance as she makes her transition. Mom is very nervous. Yeah, her baby girl’s going, but it’s all good.”