August 21, 2007

This year's incoming class is the most diverse in the history of the university. Over 33 percent of the students identify themselves as either minority or international students and Tuesday current students helped those international students arrive safely at their new home.

It's called the UVa Express and all day long a shuttle from grounds is picking students up from Dulles airport and bringing them back to so they can start getting ready for the up coming year.

“They've all traveled a very long distance, they're very important members of the class of 2011 and we just felt like this was the best way to welcome them to this community,” said Sarah Brown, Express Volunteer.

Arriving on campus Tuesday for her Second Year, Cheryl Kong said it would have been nice to have this warm welcome when she jumped off a 24 hour flight from Singapore last year for the first time.

“It's really brilliant we got off the flight and came here and we went to belt 9 to look for them and we saw people in orange with balloons and they gave us food and water,” said Kong,

“I think it's a really great idea because it's like one less thing for us to worry about, how to get to the university,” said Hoishan Chan, a First Year.

Both Kong and Chan say Tuesday's welcome just reassures them being a Wahoo is the only way to be.

“It kind of like confirmed my thoughts about the university being like a gigantic family,” said Chan.

“It's been well received I think that all of the students and parents have been very appreciative,” said Brown.

Once they get here they will get their keys and begin moving in. All in all they are expecting to transport over a 130 students, so they can make it in time for their orientation Wednesday.

The idea for UVa Express came about after a student from Singapore spent the night in a bus terminal last year, after her flight was delayed. That caused her to miss the last bus to Charlottesville, and her first day of orientation.