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UNCA freshmen, assisted by parents and university volunteers, move in Aug. 20. Photo courtesy of UNCA

College life for some 600 new freshmen at UNC Asheville began on Aug. 20.

More than 100 faculty, staff and alumni volunteers clad in Bulldog blue T-shirts helped students and their families with move-in.

Freshmen and faculty that evening for the annual convocation ceremony. As the students process to the ceremony, it is tradition for them to pat the statue of Rocky, the Bulldog mascot.

The ceremony included presentation of Class of 2014 pins to each student and the presentation of the Class of 2014 American Chestnut tree, which will be planted on campus.

J. William “Bill” Miller, professor and chair of Environmental Studies, gave the keynote address, “Don’t Sleepwalk through Life!” Miller is a 2010 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award of Excellence in Teaching.

Later in the weekend, the freshmen were joined by about 350 new transfer students and returning upper classmen, bringing the student population to about 3,700.

Students will see that much progress has been made over the summer in new construction in many parts of the campus, UNCA stated in a press release.

Specifically, the university noted, work is on schedule on the new Kimmel Arena and the North Carolina Health and Wellness Center.

In addition, the Quad lawn now has 34 geothermal wells beneath it, connected by 7 miles of pipes to bring low-cost and energy efficient cooling and heating for Rhoades Hall and Tower.

Classes began on Aug. 23.