MOUNT OLIVE — The University of Mount Olive campus will soon welcome new and returning traditional students.

New students move in on Aug. 24, and returning students arrive on Aug. 26. Traditional seated classes are set to begin on Aug. 27.

A week of welcome activities is planned to help students get acquainted with their new community and build new relationships with fellow students.

In addition to on-campus activities, the Town of Mount Olive is planning a Block Party. Scheduled for Sept. 12, the event will feature local chamber-member food trucks, a DJ, and a corn-hole competition. It is geared towards students, and the public is also invited.

“We want to bring our college students and our community together for a fun night and hope for a good turnout. We anticipate making this an annual event,” said Mount Olive Chamber Director Julie Beck.

Beck noted that the town is also designing and ordering new light pole banners that read ‘UMO Welcome Home Trojans.’

“This initiative is part of our efforts to strengthen the relationship between the community and the college,” Beck said. “We aim to transform our identity from a town with a college to a true college town.”

Interestingly, the Town of Mount Olive, the Mt. Olive Pickle Company, and the University of Mount Olive all use green and white as their identity colors.

“We want to leverage that to create a stronger presence,” said Beck. “We look forward to having the students back in town and engaging with them because many think of the community as just the college. However, when you attend college, you are a part of the broader community of that town, whether it’s Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Greenville, or Mount Olive. We need to bridge those gaps and bring those two things together.”

UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom agreed, “We are eager to see our campus and the community filled with the excitement and energy our students provide.”

According to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Dan Sullivan, about 65% of UMO’s traditional students are residential students, bringing considerable revenue to the local economy.

“The town notices when students are not here; their presence is missed,” said Beck. “And it’s not just about economic impact. Obviously, we notice a difference when they aren’t around spending money, but it’s also about the vibrancy they bring to our community. Having college students in town is a great thing for us. We really honor and appreciate that!”