Celebrating the Class

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Dickinsonians around the world welcomed the members of the class of 2019 well before they set foot on campus

by Lauren Davidson

More than 500 members of the Dickinson community gathered in 17 locations throughout July and August to celebrate the class of 2019 in style. From Pittsburgh to Portland, Baltimore to Beijing, these Summer Send-Offs offered alumni, parents, current students and our newest Dickinsonians an opportunity for connections and conversations about all things Dickinson.

“It was very energetic,” said Dana Frohwein ’89, who hosted the Atlanta, Ga., event. “And it was great energy not just among the incoming first-years—who absolutely bonded right away—but also for the alumni who were there. It was fabulous.”

With each reception mixing together recent grads, seasoned alumni, current students and dedicated parents, a multitude of perspectives offered something for everyone, and all attendees shared their experiences with both the excitement and nervousness that comes with starting this new chapter.

“You could tell the incoming freshmen were a little nervous at first, but once we all started to talk, they really opened up,” shared Emma Jenkins ’16, who attended the New Jersey reception hosted by her parents, Rick and Jackie Jenkins. “They definitely left at the end of the day feeling more reassured and having their questions answered.”

Killian Donohue ’19, who attended the Westchester, N.Y., event, seconded that: “It was a little awkward at first, but once I began meeting some of the students things started to become more natural. Everyone was very approachable and told me about the ins and outs of Dickinson. I would describe the event as entertaining, fulfilling, comforting, enthusiastic and enjoyable!”

The incoming students posed questions that covered the gamut, from what the food and residence halls would be like to how to prepare for move-in day to what internship opportunities might be available.

“All the alumni made an effort to meet all the incoming freshmen,” Frohwein said. “The overall feeling those freshmen walked away with was, ‘What a fabulous support network, and I can turn to anyone here in this room and [so many] others within the Dickinson community!’ ”

Back on campus, that Dickinson community is ready for the largest class in the college’s history to arrive on campus, which will happen on Sunday, Aug. 23, for those participating in Pre-Orientation Adventure programs and Wednesday, Aug. 26, for the remaining new students. And these students are primed to make their mark on Dickinson, bringing with them an incredible breadth of international experiences, service work, athletic prowess and leadership experience.

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Published August 21, 2015