FAMU Alumni Launch Service to Ease College Move-In for Students
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For many college students, move-in day begins a new chapter of excitement, independence and possibility. But for families, the journey to campus can bring logistical challenges, heavy lifting and unexpected expenses.
For Florida A&M University sophomore Ian Hartage, that experience is familiar.
“Moving out was one of the most trying times ever, especially coming out of finals,” he said. “Definitely, with more hands-on deck, the easier it’s going to be.”
Recognizing those challenges firsthand, a group of FAMU alumni is working to make the college transition easier through New Life Campus, a student-centered moving and storage service operated by New Life Logistix.
Founded in 2020, New Life Logistix provides residential, commercial, government and specialty transportation services. Through its New Life Campus initiative, the company is applying that expertise to help college students navigate move-in, move-out and summer storage with less stress.
For Shelton Franklin, CEO of New Life Logistix and a FAMU alumnus, the idea is deeply personal.
Franklin said his experience at FAMU helped shape both his entrepreneurial mindset and the company’s mission to solve a real-world challenge affecting students and families.
Members of the New Life Logistix team prepare move-in equipment as part of the company’s
student-focused New Life Campus initiative, designed to simplify the college move-in
and storage experience. (Photo Courtesy: Inspiring Visuals)
“One thing that we saw, especially being in SBI, we always had Fortune 500 leaders come and speak to us,” Franklin said. “That instilled the mindset that you can be where you want to be, and you can do what you want to do.”
That Rattler mindset is now fueling a service designed to address one of the lesser-discussed barriers to higher education: helping students get to campus and settle in smoothly.
“At HBCUs, we notice that one of the challenges is getting from home to the university, and sometimes that can restrict students on where they end up going,” Franklin said. “What we want to do is bridge that gap so students can go anywhere they want and attend the school they love.”
Students arrive on campus for move-in, beginning a new chapter in their college journey.
For many, the experience represents the start of newfound independence and the excitement
of campus life. (Photo Courtesy: Inspiring Visuals)
The service is designed to simplify what can often be a physically demanding and expensive process. Students receive shipping bins to pack their belongings, send them back for storage, and have their items delivered directly to their residence hall room before move-in day. At the end of the academic year, the same process allows students to pack and store their belongings over the summer before delivery to their next campus residence.
The company offers multiple service packages tailored to student needs, along with payment plan options intended to help families manage costs.
Students and families navigate move-in day as they arrive on campus. Florida A&M University
alumni-founded New Life Campus aims to ease the transition through student-focused
moving and storage services. (Photo Courtesy: Inspiring Visuals)
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, families are increasingly balancing
tuition, housing, transportation and essential move-in expenses. Services that help
streamline that transition can provide some predictability during an otherwise hectic
season.
“We’ve all been there. We know the pain points of moving into residential facilities,” said Ryan McHenry, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of New Life Logistix. “This isn’t just about moving boxes. We wanted to make that transition from adolescent to young adult as smooth as possible.”
Beyond logistics, the initiative also reflects the entrepreneurial spirit FAMU has long cultivated in its students, creating solutions rooted in lived experience while giving back to the next generation.
For students preparing to begin their collegiate journey, that kind of support could make all the difference.
For more information about New Life Campus and its student move-in services, visit New Life Campus.
Members of the New Life Campus team assist with move-in logistics inside a residence
hall, helping streamline the transition process for students arriving on campus. (Photo
Courtesy: Inspiring Visuals)
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
