VALDOSTA — Dodging construction fences and battling for parking spaces heralded the return of more than 11,500 students to Valdosta State University Monday.
At the heart of Valdosta the historic campus was crawling with students as they rushed to class, crammed into to Palms Dining Center and walked to the bookstore to purchase their future knowledge.
Wide-eyed freshman tramped across campus toting new book-bags and maps, searching for those first college classes.
Savannah native and incoming freshman Antwoine Owens sat outside the VSU bookstore on Monday working on his laptop.
While he came to VSU for a change of scenery the personal freedom experienced during freshman year will not be regulated by his parents, he said.
“I have no one telling me what to do, no one around to push me,” Owens said. “I will have to be my own extra push.”
To prepare for the frenetic pace that seizes the campus on the first day, Owens said he spent Sunday wandering around campus and finding the buildings his classes would be in.
A sort of dry-run for the big day, the pharmacy major said.
Inside the bookstore senior Sheena Edmonds patiently waited in line to purchase textbooks and other supplies. The biology major said she was familiar with the long lines at the bookstore and the heavy traffic while trying to park on campus, both events still come as a shock each year.
In the new parking decks, Oak Street and Sustella, the students were still grappling to find an open spot among the 5,029 spaces across the university.
Communications major Melanie Yeomans picked up some VSU gear along with her textbooks.
The middle Georgia native transferred from another college because of VSU’s communications department, she said.
The junior from Jacksonville, Ga., said she is still adjusting to life in a new town.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Valdosta State University Bookstore clerk Kellee Lawrence, right, helps senior Shenna Edwards, who is purchasing textbooks Monday.
-
Valdosta State University students are back for the first day of classes Monday, filling the streets around the campus with cars and students.
-
Valdosta State University Bookstore clerk Kellee Lawrence, right, helps senior Shenna Edwards, who is purchasing textbooks Monday.
Discussion
Students return to VSU
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
