It takes a lot to get a college freshman moved into her first dormitory. That's why over 50 faculty, staff, Student Association officers, and upperclassmen volunteered for Porter Power, an effort to assist freshmen and their families with the move-in process on the Wednesday before the start of the 2009-1010 school year.

 
"Porter Power is a well-established tradition at PUC, and its intent is to make certain our new students feel welcome and wanted," said Lisa Bissell Paulson, Vice President for Student Services, who coordinated the year kick-off event along with the Student Association. "We've been anxiously awaiting our 'company' to get here, and today they finally arrived!"

And they arrived in droves. After a long, lonely summer on campus, the dorms were shimmering with activity and parking was difficult to find along La Jota drive. Throughout the sea of excited new freshmen and parents, familiar volunteers in blue shirts scurried around offering assistance and lugging suitcases and mini refrigerators. It was hard but rewarding work. "We can blame my wife for the fact that we'll all be needing massages later," joked Bob Paulson, professor of exercise science, health, and nutrition and husband of the event's coordinator.

 
"I went to PUC and I moved into these dorms eight times," said Aimee Wyrick, assistant professor of biology. "It was always such hard work and I can totally relate. And I think it's just a nice thing to do."

"I've been working with all these new students all year long and I was very excited to have all of them moving into the dorm," said enrollment counselor Cambria Wheeler, bubbling with enthusiasm despite the effort in the hot sunny weather. "I've been talking to all these kids and emailing and phoning, and now seeing them all here in the flesh is very exciting."

It was clear that the volunteer effort was making a difference for the freshmen and their families. "I hope the energy, excitement, and the display of service is contagious to every new student at PUC," said Bissell Paulson. "I hope this is just another assurance to parents that PUC is exactly the right place for their son or daughter."