Sizable Beginnings

Dickinson welcomes largest class in history.

Juan Carlos Flores ’11, president of Student Senate.

by Michelle Simmons

Dickinson welcomes largest class in history.

Juan Carlos Flores ’11, president of Student Senate.

With 660 first-year students ascending the steps of Old West on Sunday, Aug. 29, to sign in to the college, Dickinson’s annual Convocation may have taken just a bit longer than usual.

 

In her welcome remarks, Stephanie Balmer, vice president for enrollment and communications and dean of admissions, pointed out that the historic class was marked not only by quantity but quality: 55 percent had graduated in the top 10 percent of their high-school class. Among Dickinson’s most diverse, the class of 2014 hails from 34 states and 29 countries.

Student Senate President Juan Carlos Flores ’11 reminded the incoming class that “you will not be defined by your precedent-setting numbers. Rather, you will be defined largely by what you individually bring to this campus.”

He exhorted students to get to know every member of the campus community—fellow students, faculty, administrators and staff.

“Open yourself up in this place. Do not make assumptions about who sits next to you in your class or about who is part of the Dickinson community,” he said. “Instead, get to know people, learn from all the members of this community and appreciate your ability to define yourself by the great opportunities Dickinson has to offer.”

Published September 1, 2010