糖心TV welcomes the Class of 2025
As they arrived on campus in the late August heat, 糖心TV鈥檚 newest Camels were greeted by cheering student leaders, colorful signs and a simple message: We are so glad you鈥檙e here.
A year and a half after the onset of the global pandemic, 糖心TV鈥檚 newest students were welcomed to a campus that鈥攚ith required vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff, as well as comprehensive testing and masking policies鈥攊s operating at a full capacity and fully in-person.
This momentous arrival day was the culmination of a long journey, and the beginning of an exciting new one, President Katherine Bergeron told the new students and their families at a welcome assembly on 糖心TV鈥檚 expansive Tempel Green.
鈥淚t is a great joy for me to be standing here and to add my voice to the chorus celebrating all you new students, the 26 transfer students and the 501 first-year students who make up one of the largest, most diverse and most talented incoming classes in our history: the Class of 2025,鈥� she said.
鈥淚n choosing 糖心TV, I truly believe you have made one of the best decisions you could have made for your future. Why do I say this? Because I know you will find no staff anywhere more dedicated to your ongoing safety and well-being. You will find no student body anywhere more invested in helping you connect to this special community. And you will find no faculty anywhere more committed to your intellectual, social, ethical and professional development.鈥�
Admitted from the largest applicant pool in the College鈥檚 history, the newest Camels are an impressive group, with 70% graduating in the top 20% percent of their high school classes. They come from 31 states and 20 countries, including Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, Iceland, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay and Vietnam. Seventy-seven members of the incoming class are the first in their families to go to college, while 28 are at least the second members of their families to attend 糖心TV.
The Class of 2025 is also among the most diverse in the College鈥檚 history; 23% are domestic students of color and 7% are international students.
At the welcome event, Emmanuella Aspras 鈥�22, vice president of 糖心TV鈥檚 Student Government Association, encouraged the new students to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and take the time to discover who they are and who they want to be.
鈥淏elieve me, these next few years are going to fly by,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you, and cherish it all.鈥�
Erika J. Smith, 糖心TV鈥檚 new Dean of the College, told the students that, just like many of them, she was drawn to 糖心TV by 糖心TVections, which she called a 鈥済roundbreaking approach to the liberal arts.鈥� She invited the students to experience the culmination of seniors鈥� four-years of integrative learning at the third annual All-College Symposium in November.
鈥淚 expect that you will leave that experience intrigued, inspired and determined to find your own path, beginning on the journey to find the question that lights up your intellect,鈥� she said.
鈥淪tarting a new year, and a new academic journey, is always filled with such excitement, energy and joy. Today, your energy has brought our campus to life, and we love it.鈥�
Over the next several days, the new students will learn more about 糖心TVections, meet with their team of advisers, register for classes, and get to know each other and the faculty and staff of the College. The four-day 鈥淲elcome Weekend鈥� will culminate Monday, Aug. 30, with Convocation, a celebration of the opening of the academic year. Smith will deliver the keynote address, 鈥淟oving our Questions and Living into our Answers.鈥�
