501 new Camels arrive on campus
The 490 students in the Class of 2014 and 11 transfer students arrived Aug. 28 and were excited to move into their new campus homes.
Many had traveled a great distance -- the newest Camels hail from 30 states, Washington, D.C., and 23 countries, including South Africa, Iran, Yemen, China, Burkina Faso, Turkey, Poland, Liberia, and Ireland.
View a slide show of Arrival Day 2010: Welcome Class of 2014!
A diverse and talented group, the Class of 2014 was selected from a pool of 5,301 applicants. Fifty-six percent of the freshmen were ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school classes and 89 percent ranked in the top 20 percent. Fifteen percent of the students are the first in their families to attend college, and 18 percent are American students of color.
The new students include a mountain climber, a magazine founder, a crepe chef and top-rated pianist. The most popular anticipated majors are psychology, international relations, biological sciences, English, economics, history, environmental studies, art, sociology and government.
During a welcome assembly on the students´ first day on campus, President Leo I. Higdon Jr., told the new students they are entering the college at a very special time. "In January, we will begin a year-long celebration of Connecticut College´s Centennial," he said."Throughout our Centennial year, we will celebrate this very special liberal arts education and the impact it has on students and the world."
At the assembly, students were also welcomed by Martha Merrill ´84, dean of admission and financial aid; Armando Bengochea, dean of the college and senior diversity officer; Andrea Rossi-Reder, associate dean of studies for freshmen and sophomores, and Nathan Cornell ´10, president of the Student Government Association.
Each freshman also received a small blue "passport" emblazoned with the college logo and containing brief profiles of alumni. The passports are a gift from the Connecticut College Alumni Association through the Office of Alumni Relations. They are given annually to each incoming class.
The assembly kicked off a five-day orientation during which students learn about everything from the Honor Code to study abroad and internship programs. They also met with their faculty advisers, took placements tests, learned about community service opportunities and met each other at a variety of social events like the annual "Batch Blast," a social gathering and picnic established in 1988 by an anonymous donor in honor of Esther Batchelder ´19.
The orientation week culminated with Convocation, a meeting of the entire college community to celebrate the formal beginning of the academic year. Simon Feldman, assistant professor of philosophy and recipient of the 2010 John S. King Memorial Teaching Award, gave the keynote address, "Honor Code Ethics 101." Read more.
Students also had an opportunity to get acquainted with downtown New London during the annual "New London 101" event. They had lunch at the Hygienic Art Park, took a walking tour of the city and met New London´s mayor, Robert M. Pero. Each student also got a New London passport with information about the city´s many restaurants, businesses and attractions.
September 9, 2010
