New students arrive for Welcome Week 2026

JACKSON, Tenn. — For freshman Isaac Forbes, the path to Union University almost didn’t happen.

Heading into freshman orientation earlier this summer, Forbes’ family was about $5,000 short of what they needed to afford Union. He had even started looking at other schools, worried the finances wouldn’t work out. But his parents encouraged him to trust the Lord, so he did.

Then, during freshman orientation, Forbes was scrolling through his email and found a message about a scholarship through the Baptist Foundation of Illinois that he hadn’t received. A donor had seen his application and decided to give him $5,000 anyway.

“That was just really cool to see,” Forbes said. “It strengthened my faith a lot.”

Forbes, who is from Vandalia, Illinois, and plans to study nursing, was one of 319 students who moved onto campus Aug. 13 during Union’s annual Move-In Day, a collaborative effort in which current students, professors and staff assist new students in moving into their campus apartments.

“Every Move-In Day is a reminder of why we do this work,” said Dan Griffin, Union’s vice president for enrollment management. “These students and their families have trusted us with something significant, and we don’t take that lightly. Our prayer is that they leave here having grown not just academically, but in their walk with Christ.”

Will Livingston, of Nashville, Tennessee, first heard about Union through a friend on the Bulldog basketball team and visited campus during his junior year of high school. He went to a baseball camp the following summer, made an official visit last August and committed the next day.

“I was sold the moment I saw the campus,” said Livingston, who plans to study finance and play baseball at Union. “Just seeing how connected the people were — going into classes, seeing how the teachers and the professors interacted with the students — was something I really never thought college would look like.”

Livingston said he’s looking forward to the brotherhood of the baseball team, including team Bible studies, as well as the support he’ll get from professors as he balances athletics and academics.

Elizabeth Mink, of Montgomery, Alabama, became familiar with Union through Stoa, a Christian home school speech and debate organization, that has held its national tournament on Union’s campus multiple times. After narrowing her college search to Union and one other school, she said Union’s approach to faith stood out.

“It seemed genuine,” Mink said. “I’d rather grow both my soul and my mind.”

Mink plans to study marriage and family counseling and said she’s looking forward to Life Groups and mission trip opportunities.

Kate Giacoman, of Fleming Island, Florida, first heard about Union from family friends whose sons had attended and loved it. After visiting campus herself, she said she fell for the school before ever touring the in-state options she had planned to consider.

“It was just the faculty and the community in general — their genuine commitment to Christ was what drew me in,” said Giacoman, who plans to study nursing. “I’m just excited to grow academically, as well as spiritually.”

For Forbes, Union runs in the family. His parents Doug and Christy are Union graduates. His older sister Abby graduated from Union’s nursing program, and another sister, Anna, is currently a senior at Union.

Forbes said what won him over wasn’t just the family history but the community he encountered for himself.

“I’m ready for the friends I’ll make and the lifelong relationships I’ll have with professors and students,” Forbes said.

Move-In Day kicked off Welcome Week 2026, a week intended to allow new students to connect with the incoming class and adjust to campus life. Classes for the fall semester begin Aug. 18.