Campus Life

Relive Wolfpack Welcome Week 2022

New and returning students came together on campus to kick-start the academic year and experience the best NC State has to offer.

September 6, 2022 Alex Fulton 5-min. read

A large crowd gathers during Packapalooza 2022 to watch Wolfpack Welcome Week's grand finale: a dazzling firework show over the Belltower.

Wolfpack, you’ve been in the swing of things for more than two weeks now, but we’re still reminiscing about your campus debut: Wolfpack Welcome Week.

You dove headfirst into more than 100 events and activities across 10 dizzying days. You explored campus, connected with friends and even celebrated the return of Packapalooza, our daylong street festival, after a two-year hiatus. We wish we could rewind to play it all over again.

Now you’ve gained a solid foundation to start this academic year off strong, and we’re thrilled to have you back.

Here’s how your Wolfpack Welcome Week unfolded.

Student performers hype up the crowd (and throw up their wolf hands) at a Wolfpack Welcome Week event.

You Moved In

Thursday, Aug. 18 – Sunday, Aug. 21: Residence halls opened their doors, and you flooded back to campus to fill our Raleigh home with energy and excitement once again. (Shout out to your friends and family who braved the heat to help you get settled in.)

Two students carry boxes toward their residence halls on a sweltering move-in day.

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You Howled at the Moon

Friday, Aug. 19: Calling all night owls (or should we say night wolves?). Wellness and Recreation kicked us off by hosting Moonlight Howl and Run, a 1.6-mile midnight fun run that began at the Belltower and ended with a post-race dance party on the Brickyard.

A crowd of students walk and run down a road on campus during Moonlight Howl and Run.

A crowd of students triumphantly cross the finish line during Moonlight Howl and Run, a midnight fun run.

You Added to Our Legacy

Saturday, Aug. 20: At the Alumni Association‘s 25th Legacy Luncheon, we invited incoming students and their alumni parents and grandparents to celebrate making NC State a family tradition. Loved ones proudly pinned the newest generation of the Pack with legacy pins during a special ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum.

Families threw up their wolfies together in Reynolds Coliseum.

Students were ceremonially pinned by family members with special pins.

**Video:** Watch a recap of this year’s Legacy Luncheon.

Something to warm your hearts: Everyone’s favorite campus tour guide, Tom Stafford, welcomed his grandson to NC State during the event.

Dr. Tom Stafford ‘66, former vice chancellor of student affairs, with his son and grandson — three generations of Wolfpackers 🤘🥹 — on Stafford Commons after today’s Legacy Luncheon.#NCStateWWW pic.twitter.com/kspMf2cFMe

— NC State Alumni (@NCStateAlumni) August 20, 2022

You Packed Miller Fields for RecFest

Sunday, Aug. 21: Whether you’re joining an intramural sports team, hitting our state-of-the-art gym or exploring Lake Raleigh, there are so many ways to lead an active lifestyle on our campus. RecFest is about highlighting them all.

Attendees flocked to Miller Fields to learn about Wellness and Recreation’s offerings and spent an evening enjoying giveaways, games, food and entertainment.

Students play a quick game of volleyball during RecFest.

A student gets a sno-cone from a vendor during RecFest.

You Got a Crash Course on All Things NC State

Sunday, Aug. 21: A cornerstone of Wolfpack Welcome Week, New Student Convocation was the first time our incoming class united as a whole — all 5,601 of them.

The class of 2026 got an introduction to their new university home, heard from community leaders and were handed down some beloved NC State traditions. (Watching a brand-new class sing their alma mater for the first time? Guaranteed goosebumps.)

Students also received red and white tassels to remind them of the finish line four years ahead, and they closed out the gathering by posing for the annual class photo on Stafford Commons.

Students got their first of many selfies with Mr. Wuf and Ms. Wuf during New Student Convocation.

A group of more than 5,000 incoming first-years gathered in Reynolds for New Student Convocation.

The Class of 2026 takes part in an annual Wolfpack Welcome Week tradition: posing for their class photo. An aerial shot shows students forming the shape of their graduating year, 2026. — **Video:** Take a look back at how we welcomed the class of 2026 to campus at New Student Convocation.

You Chilled and Grilled With Greek Groups

Tuesday, Aug. 23: NC State’s Interfraternity Council and Inter-Residence Council threw a joint welcome-back bash to introduce residents to two of the largest organizations on campus.

A group of students enjoy a meal during the Chillin' and Grillin' with IFC/IRC event.

Nestled between residence halls, a large group plays volleyball on a sandy court.

You Jammed Out With the Black Students Board

Wednesday, Aug. 24: Back 2 School Jam is an annual celebration hosted by NC State’s Black Students Board to welcome students of color to the Wolfpack. Participants got acquainted with campus resources and clubs, then assembled in Stewart Theatre for a student showcase featuring stepping, dancing and other performances.

An NC State dance team shows off their moves on stage during the Back 2 School Jam.

Animated students in the crowd hype up performers at the Back 2 School Jam.

Fusion Dance Crew performs at the Back 2 School Jam.

You Showed Your Respect for the Pack

Thursday, Aug. 25: We’re all responsible for making this campus an inclusive environment, and Respect the Pack affirms our commitment. The annual event hosted by Student Government promotes diversity, equity and mutual respect for everyone in our Wolfpack community.

Students, faculty and staff joined in Talley Student Union to pledge unity and respect, then traveled to the Free Expression Tunnel to place their handprints on this year’s Respect the Pack mural.

A diverse group of students pledged their unity and respect during the Respect the Pack event in Talley Student Union.

Students showed their commitment to diversity and inclusion by adding paint handprints to the Respect the Pack mural.

The Free Expression Tunnel is painted annually with a "Respect the Pack" mural on which our student body adds handprints. — **Video:** This year’s Respect the Pack event was structured as a mini-conference with sessions hosted by students and faculty.

You Found Ways to Get Involved

Friday, Aug. 26: With more than 600 student organizations, there’s a group for virtually every interest here — but trying to find your perfect place among them all might feel overwhelming. Enter the Student Involvement Fair.

At the afternoon event, students eager to share their passions took over Stafford Commons. Attendees had the chance to discover new clubs, connect with support services and meet faculty and staff ready to help them navigate campus life.

Come learn about all of the amazing student clubs and organizations we have on @NCState campus. 🎉👏#NCStateWWW pic.twitter.com/pJq2KydYQ4

— NC State Poole College of Management (@NCStatePoole) August 26, 2022

You Hit Hillsborough Street to Celebrate Packapalooza

Saturday, Aug. 27: We ended more than a week of festivities with the ultimate send-off: Packapalooza, NC State’s all-day block party and street festival. And we had plenty to celebrate this year, too; the fan-favorite event marked its 10th anniversary and returned to the Wolfpack Welcome Week schedule for the first time since 2019.

A crowd of excited students watch a performance on the Packapalooza main stage. — **Packapalooza By Night**: Look back on Wolfpack Welcome Week’s grand finale, which included a headliner performance from American Aquarium.

A sea of students and community members traverse Hillsborough Street during Packapalooza. — **Packapalooza By Day:** Earlier that day, a sea of students crowded our favorite thoroughfare to celebrate NC State in style. Watch the highlights.

Students enjoyed refreshments from dozens of vendors, including a popular pineapple drink. — Our jam-packed schedule included hundreds of vendor booths, activities, food and a steady lineup of live performances.

Flags from countries around the world marked the "International Zone" at Packapalooza, which hosted a cultural showcase. — The festival’s International Zone was a dedicated space for students to proudly showcase cultures from across the globe.

NC State cheerleaders and the Power Sound of the South pumped up Packapalooza-goers all afternoon.

A student wearing a t-shirt that reads "Think and Do 2022" jumps on an inflatable slide. — Two words: *free t-shirts*. (We understand your obsession, and we were happy to oblige.)

Abby Lampe poses for a selfie with NC State students and her winning cheese wheel. — NC State’s resident cheese-rolling champ, Abby Lampe, signed autographs and cut her prized cheese wheel on the main stage.

Wolfies were raised proudly in the air during Packapalooza's many music performances.

Chancellor Randy Woodson plays guitar with BJ Barham, the lead singer of American Aquarium and an NC State alum. — Chancellor Randy Woodson joined American Aquarium to play guitar during a special performance of their song, “Wolves.”

We traditionally light up the sky above the Memorial Belltower with a fireworks show during Packapalooza. — The night ended with a dazzling fireworks display and, naturally, we had to light up the Memorial Belltower in our best color.

We can’t thank you enough for making this Wolfpack Welcome Week spectacular — and bringing your Think and Do spirit back to campus. Same time and place next year?