The university gears up for the new academic year with move-in reminders and special events.
 
This publication is designed to communicate the latest news for Washington and Lee University parents and families. The W&L Family Connection is distributed each month and complements other university channels to help keep parents and families informed about life on campus. Please send your suggestions for future issues to families@wlu.edu.
Family Connection: August 2024
 
We're looking forward to 2024 Move-In Day.
 
Reminders for Parents and Students
The mile-long to-do list prior to Washington and Lee move-in has started to dwindle one item at a time. Twin XL sheets? Check. Shower caddy? Check. Laundry hamper? Check. We recently asked followers of @wlunews to share advice on what new students should bring, and mattress topper won the poll alongside closet organizer, something reminiscent of home and ear plugs.
Let's triple-check that your student is prepared for their year at W&L.
Move-In Day for first-year students is Saturday, Aug. 24. Your student received a specific move-in time slot via their WLU email, and it is important you arrive during your designated time. The Leading Edge trip leaders, staff from the Office of Housing & Residence Life, student volunteers and some student-athletes will be there to help you move into the rooms.
Be on the lookout for an email early next week with move-in details and a printable map. NOTE: Please label your student's belongings with their name and room number (preferably large and visible) to help ensure belongings stay together during move-in.
Make sure you're not forgetting anything by visiting the W&L "What to Bring" page – it's divided into categories to make it more digestible and also includes a list of what NOT to bring, as well as specific dimensions for Gaines Hall and Graham-Lees Hall rooms. Also visit the First-Year Experience FAQ page for more lingering questions and the W&L Families Dashboard for more resources.
Move-In days for upper division and transfer students are Aug. 30-31.  The Office of Public Safety will have a check-in table both days. Check out the Student Life page for information on the wide array of student activities on campus, student services and support offered, career development opportunities, important information on W&L's policies and guidelines and much more.
We look forward to having you all back on campus!
 
Summer Spotlights
An Extraordinary Opportunity
Through W&L’s Summer Research Scholars program, Landon Rollins ’26 and John Paul Hammond ’27 are working in Special Collections to process an alumnus’ expansive performing arts collection.
Summer Knights
The A. Paul Knight Internship Program in Conservation, named in memory of a late Washington and Lee student, allows students to pursue their passion for environmental conservation.
Reconstructing the Past
Summer Research Scholars are spending their summer helping to bring one of the world's oldest cities to life through modern technology.
Banking on Women
Siya ’27 married her passions for service with her economics and mathematics majors to intern this summer at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh through the Shepherd Program.
Lending a Healing Hand
With the support of a Johnson Opportunity Grant, Sofia Iuteri ’27 is expanding the reach of the nonprofit she founded at 16.
Read more on the Columns
 
Washington and Lee Athletics
W&L offers 24 varsity sports, 12 for men and 12 for women. All sports compete at the NCAA Division III level, and most participate in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Most recently, the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced the 2023-24 All-State awards during the month of July, which were highlighted by the Generals taking home eight Player of the Year awards, seven Coach of the Year awards and four Rookie of the Year awards. Heading into the 2024-25 athletics year, the W&L men's soccer team is ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Opening games for several fall sports teams come on Aug. 30, including a home men's soccer game against No. 24 Johns Hopkins. Click here to view the composite schedule.
More information about W&L Athletics, including all the VaSID All-State teams and award winners, can be found on generalssports.com.
Interested in W&L Athletics email updates for the year? Sign up here.
 
Newsworthy
Student Organization Spotlight: First-Year Orientation Committee
The First-Year Orientation Committee has been planning since last fall to offer programming to welcome the Class of 2028 to W&L’s campus this month.
Lindley’s Legacy Lives On
Washington and Lee's new student wellness center named after Lindley Spaht Dodson '99 has inspired generous support.
Lenfest Center for the Arts Presents 2024-25 Season, ‘Expand the Arts!’
Tickets for the entire season will be available to purchase beginning Sept. 9.
W&L Student Named a Gold Award Girl Scout
Emma Marvelli ’27 garnered the award after honoring her former high school coach and bringing attention to the hammer throw.
Lucy Donahue '24, Perry Kramer '24, Shanna Kim '24, Jackson Hotchkiss '24, Lillie Taylor '24, Jackson Jacobs '24, Kathryn Cover '24 and more members from the Class of 2024 share their post-graduation steps.
 
Lifelong Learning for W&L Parents
South Africa: A Discovery Journey of Cape Town, The Winelands and a Safari in Kruger National Park
The allures of South Africa are many: incredible natural beauty, superb vineyards and a fascinating and complicated political and cultural history. This distinctive tour combines it all in a package designed for W&L’s discerning travelers.
 
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Chemistry Professor Lisa Alty
In this month’s episode, Alty discusses how a distasteful high school chemistry experience, enrolling in college as a first-generation student and seeing W&L evolve since the early years of coeducation shaped her approach to teaching.
Learn more about Lifelong Learning opportunities
 
Campus Events
Convocation to Kick Off New Academic Year at Washington and Lee
The event will be held on the Front Lawn at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 4, and Roosevelt Montás from Columbia University will provide remarks.
The Museums at W&L Present ‘Stephanie Shih: LONG TIME NO SEE (好久不見)’
The solo exhibition, on view starting Aug. 28, mines the Reeves Collection of Chinese Export to explore diaspora and identity through ceramics.
 
Save the Date
09-05
Fall Term Begins
Fall Term classes begin Sept. 5. Add/drop ends at midnight on Sept. 11.
09-17
Study Abroad Fair
Students should stop by Cannan Green from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 17 to learn more about studying abroad program offerings.
Learn more
10-03
Spring Term Abroad Zoom Info Session
Center for International Education (CIE) staff will discuss application instructions and financial aid information at 6:30 p.m. The session will be recorded for students who are unable to attend. Directly following the information session, faculty program directors will host course-specific breakout sessions in various locations across campus. The schedule will be posted in Campus Notices.
Session registration
10-04
Parents and Family Weekend
W&L will host the 70th annual celebration of Parents & Family Weekend Oct. 4-6, honoring the families of W&L students.
Learn more
 
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Additional Social Media Accounts to Follow
Follow along with all of campus' social media channels with the W&L social media directory! Click here for a full list.
 
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