Move In Day at CU
Aug 31, 2009
Pam McMurray (CU ’90) of Columbus, Ohio, carried her daughter’s big, fluffy, blue comforter across the parking lot to her first dorm room while Arthur McKinney of Eastpoint, Mich., carried his daughter, Kristen’s, compact refrigerator up a flight of stairs to her resident hall.
The two families were part of more than 380 incoming students who moved onto the 132-acre Cornerstone University campus Aug. 31. 
The new students were from 24 states from Hawaii to New Hampshire and 14 countries.
“We’ve been spending a lot of time preparing for this day,” said Dr. Joe Stowell, president of Cornerstone. “We’ve been praying for you and we believe every single one of you is significant in the eyes of God. It is not an accident you are here today.”
Excited families lined up early for sign-in to get their dorm assignment, said Lisa Link, director of admissions.
“There was a constant line of families all day,” she said. “About 40 families lined up before the opening time. There was high energy, lots of smiles and some tears. It’s so fun for the admissions staff to welcome all the fall 2009 students who we’ve been talking to for more than a year.”
The students and parents were greeted with music by Cornerstone University radio station WAYfm, which gave away prizes throughout the day, and families received high fives from Rocky, Cornerstone’s mascot the Golden Eagle.
Dr. Stowell and Dr. Wilbert Welch, who served twice as president of the school and is currently chancellor, greeted students as they lined up.
Throughout the day students enjoyed free snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy. Parents took frequent breaks from moving luggage, small appliances and bedding for lemonade and snacks provided by each residence hall.
Students received their laptops, their first Cornerstone ID cards and keys to their rooms before gathering in the afternoon for a chapel service where Dr. Stowell prayed over them.
The new students knelt down in the Hansen Athletic Center as Dr. Stowell prayed over them, “May your heart, soul and mind belong to Jesus. May God bless you in every single way.”
Dr. Chuck Swanson, interim vice president for spiritual formation, prayed for the parents, and Dr. Rick Ostrander, provost, prayed for the faculty this year.
This week new students will attend Terra Firma, a new program like orientation where half the week will be spent at a camp and half in the classroom learning to build a foundation on Christ, character, community and culture.
Classes will begin Sept. 9 for all students.
To schedule a visit to Cornerstone, visit www.cornerstone.edu/admissions or call 800.787.9778.
