Western New England University welcomed about 890 new students on Friday, August 25, for the annual move-in day and Convocation. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. incoming first-year students began arriving with their families to move into the residence halls.
The Fall Convocation ceremony began at 3:00 p.m. in the Alumni Healthful Living Center, marking the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year by celebrating academic excellence. The average SAT scores of the incoming freshmen are significantly above the national average, and their average high school GPA is a 3.4.
Students from the class of 2021 were selected for admission from an applicant pool of 7,033 students worldwide, the largest in the history of the University. They hail from 17 states and 12 foreign countries including Honduras, Montenegro, China, and Saudi Arabia. Twenty-six percent (26%) list themselves as African American, American Indian, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, or are international students. The incoming students have expressed an interest in 65 academic majors and concentrations. Two hundred and forty incoming students were captains of athletic teams, and 147 were members of a national honor society, both record setting numbers.
At the event, 156 second-year students were recognized for their academic achievement with induction into Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence during a student’s first year in college. The purpose of this honor is to encourage superior academic achievement among freshmen, and to promote leadership early in the student’s collegiate experience. Each newly inducted member of Alpha Lambda Delta commits to participate in two community service events per year of membership.
University President Anthony S. Caprio challenged the students saying, “You must seize the opportunity. You must be prepared to work, to be responsible, to develop good habits of mind, to pursue your education actively, to appreciate your professors, and to work in partnership with us at the University. When all is said and done, you will be judged against your accomplishments, and you will judge yourself against them. So push yourself, stretch, grow. Avail yourself fully of the many opportunities that this University will afford you.”
More photos are available to view and download.
