A slow-moving tropical storm that drenched much of North Carolina last week may have delayed Junior Move-In by a day, but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of nearly 500 new students and their families who spent this past Saturday lugging belongings into dorms on NCSSM’s campuses in Durham and Morganton.

Though having just met for the first time, Durham students Zach Blanchard, from Woods Charter School, and Jack Betz, from Holly Springs High School, were already practicing the secret roommate-only handshake they had created. “We’d been texting a lot before today,” Jack said before resuming practice on the greeting, “so it’s kind of surreal to finally meet.”

Zach, for his part, had already spent time on both of NCSSM’s campuses, having attended two summer enrichment programs in Morganton and one in Durham.

“I made some really good friends at the summer camps, and I hope to meet more people like them here because they were great.”

Across campus, Anthony Igbokwe, father of junior Chizara Igbokwe from Weddington High School, took a moment from assembling the base of a floor fan to reflect on seeing his oldest daughter, whom the family calls Zara, go off to school.

“We’re happy for her, no doubt, but it’s going to be a transition for our family. She has two younger siblings, but Zara is the leader of the pack. But now she’s going to be gone so we’re all going to have to adjust to that. We’re very proud of her, though, and happy for the opportunities that this school is going to provide her.”

Dr. Todd Roberts, NCSSM’s chancellor, split his weekend between Durham and Morganton, welcoming new and returning students and lending a hand wherever he was needed.

“Move-in day is always one of the most exciting days of the year,” he said. “We had to make some adjustments to our schedule due to the tropical storm, but Move-In Day on both the Durham and Morganton campuses was fantastic! I cannot say thank you enough to all of our senior students and NCSSM employees who were there to make the day go so smoothly. It was a wonderful way to welcome our new Unicorn and Dragon students and families.”