After a summer filled with travel, work, ministry, and new experiences, East Texas Baptist University students returned to Marshall to begin a new year on the Hill. The ETBU community welcomed new and returning Tigers to campus for the 2026–2027 academic year, which officially began August 17.
For move-in day, ETBU faculty, staff, and returning students filled the residence halls to welcome freshmen and transfer students and their families. Volunteers helped unload vehicles, carry boxes and belongings, and make the transition to campus life a little easier for each new Tiger.
Assistant Professor of Communication Klaire Smith, who has participated in nine move-in days, said the excitement surrounding the day is what stands out most to her.
“My favorite part is the electricity in the energy,” Smith said. “Everyone’s so excited because it’s the beginning of something new and exciting. It’s a pillar moment.”
For incoming freshmen, the excitement of arriving on campus also brought the realization that a new chapter was beginning.
“I was so excited,” incoming freshman Emma Rasberry said. “It’s so exciting to see that door with your name on it, and it makes it feel so real. It’s all coming to life.”
For ETBU faculty and staff, welcoming students is about more than helping them get settled. Smith said move-in day is also an opportunity to remind new students that they have a community ready to support them.
“Our hope in doing this is to show incoming freshmen that we love them and that we are accessible outside of academics,” Smith said.
For incoming freshman John Laughlin, ETBU’s faith-centered environment was an important part of his decision to attend the University and a major hope for his college experience.
“I really hope I can grow a lot in my faith through my time here,” Laughlin said. “You know, I chose this college because I wanted something that would keep me strong in my faith because I struggled to do that on my own. I hope to grow and be a better leader for myself and for other people in Christ.”
With rooms unpacked, incoming students jumped into Tiger Camp, an experience designed to introduce them to the people, traditions, and opportunities that make ETBU home. Throughout Tiger Camp, students participated in activities ranging from the energetic Tiger Games to sessions focused on navigating life as a college student. They also had opportunities to build friendships, connect with campus leaders, and grow together through corporate worship.
“Tiger Camp is really about helping our new students find their place before classes even begin,” Director of Student Life Laura Coursey said. “We want them to walk onto campus on the first day already knowing a few faces, having some friendships, and feeling like they belong here. It gives them a chance to experience the ETBU community, build relationships with other students and our campus leaders, and begin making the Hill feel like home.”
A meaningful part of Tiger Camp is the Lampsato Lighting Ceremony, which invites students to reflect on ETBU’s Christian mission and the journey they are beginning as members of the University community. During the ceremony, students receive a keychain inspired by the class ring they will receive at graduation, symbolizing the connection between their first days on campus and the milestone that awaits them at the end of their college experience.
The ceremony brings students together for worship and a message on Matthew 5:14-16 from ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn. Tiger Camp leaders then light each student’s candle, creating a shared moment of reflection and prayer as the newest members of the Tiger family prepare for the year ahead.
The weekend also gave students an opportunity to relax and connect during ETBU’s annual “Chill on the Hill” gathering. Students gathered on the Quad for ice cream and fellowship as President Blackburn and the University’s vice presidents served treats the night before class.
The new semester officially continued Monday morning with the first chapel service of the academic year. Faculty, staff, and students gathered together in Baker Chapel as Dr. Paul Mints, senior pastor of TCAL Church in Mansfield, Texas, challenged the ETBU community to consider what it means to live as people who are “Sent to Serve,” the theme for the University’s spiritual life programming throughout the 2026–2027 academic year.
“The power of the gospel of Jesus transforms us and calls us to love God in loving and serving others,” Mints said. “You are being prepared, educated, equipped to go out and be sent to serve throughout Marshall, across East Texas, and around the globe.”
Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5, Dr. Mints encouraged students to view their calling as something greater than simply choosing a career or pursuing personal success. Instead, he challenged them to consider who they belong to and how God may use them wherever they are called.
“Your calling has more to do with who you belong to than what your vocation is,” Mints said.
As a new academic year begins, the message provided a fitting charge for students as they return to ETBU, build new relationships, pursue their education, and prepare to serve their communities and the world. For the newest members of the Tiger family, the first days of the semester marked not only the beginning of their college experience but the beginning of a new chapter in the community they will call home.
After a summer filled with travel, work, ministry, and new experiences, East Texas Baptist University students returned to Marshall to begin a new year on the Hill. The ETBU community welcomed new and returning Tigers to campus for the 2026–2027 academic year, which officially began August 17.
