# UK seeks volunteers for Big Blue Move-In welcoming 8,000 students **Published:** 2026-05-28T18:18:43.000Z **Source:** [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/volunteers-needed-big-blue-move-2026) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-seeks-volunteers-for-big-blue-move-in-welcoming-8-000-students LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is seeking hundreds of volunteers to help welcome more than 8,000 students during Big Blue Move-In 2026, according to [a university announcement](https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/volunteers-needed-big-blue-move-2026). The annual tradition, scheduled for Aug. 16-19, provides an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members to create a welcoming experience for new Wildcats and their families. Volunteers serve as the first face students and parents see when arriving on campus, assisting with vehicle unloading, directing traffic, greeting families and helping newcomers settle into residence halls. John Roberts, director of the Engineering Living Learning Program, said the event showcases the university's values. "Move-in at the University of Kentucky is one of the best days on campus because it is a clear display of the care that the Wildcat community has for students," Roberts said. "Not every university has their community — alumni, administration, faculty, staff, students, student organizations and mascots — show up to make the move-in experience enjoyable and less stressful for new students." The recruitment effort comes after approximately 600 volunteers contributed to last year's move-in. University organizers are hoping to exceed that number for 2026. Volunteers who participate will receive incentives including a free meal card, a special move-in t-shirt and entry into a drawing for additional prizes. Student volunteers also receive additional benefits: those completing a 3-hour shift qualify for early move-in at no charge and a meal voucher. Big Blue Move-In precedes K Week and the start of fall classes on Aug. 24. The university, Kentucky's flagship institution, enrolls more than 25,000 undergraduates across its [19 residence halls](https://wildcatliving.uky.edu/big-blue-move-volunteers). Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the [Campus Housing volunteer page](https://wildcatliving.uky.edu/big-blue-move-volunteers). ## Sources - [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/volunteers-needed-big-blue-move-2026) - [UK Campus Housing - Big Blue Move-In Volunteers](https://wildcatliving.uky.edu/big-blue-move-volunteers) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from University of Kentucky News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/volunteers-needed-big-blue-move-2026.