Freshmen bring energy
By Madelyn Taliaferro · Contributing Writer
Over the past several weeks, Grove City College has been busy welcoming 597 new students to our campus, sports teams, classes, clubs, musical groups and more.
Our group of incoming students consists of 565 freshmen and 32 transfer students. The freshmen class has 297 (52.6%) young men and 268 (47.4%) young women. The Class of 2030 represents 40 states across the United States, along with seven international students from Canada, China, South Korea and Venezuela. Forty-eight percent of the Class of 2030 will be studying in the Hopeman School of Science, 32% in the Calderwood School of Arts and Letters and 20% in the Winklevoss School of Business.
Returning students have been welcoming our newcomers and helping them feel at home. With Orientation Board events, academic sessions, fairs and plenty of other activities underway, new and returning students alike have jumped right in and been making the most of everything Grove City has to offer. At the center of all these efforts is a desire to help new students feel connected and truly at home in the Grove City community.
“This year, our vision was bigger than just ‘connecting’ new students with each other,” Orientation Board Executive member Anastasia Brown said. “We wanted to welcome new students into the communities that have already been established here on campus; to welcome them into our friend groups and rhythms of life, whether we’re sophomores or seniors.
“That’s why you may have heard that the initial orientation groups, once called ‘connection groups,’ are now renamed ‘community groups.’
… This freshman class is certainly going to bless our community through their eagerness and openness to jump into new friendships and wider campus and community involvements, which I have already witnessed in their first few weeks on campus.”
When asked to remark upon his observations on the Class of 2030, Student Body President Nathan Devlin said that he has “observed the freshman class to be a very genuine group of people who (are) not afraid to dive right into the community. I’m excited for their next four years.”
As the Class of 2030 settles into life on campus, they are forming their own perspectives on their experiences. Community continues to be a key theme.
“Growing up locally with alumni in my family, I have loved and experienced Grove City College from a young age,” freshman Abiella Barbour from Butler said. “Taking dual enrollment classes gave me a taste of the educational side of being a Grover.
“Now, being a freshman on campus and being immersed, I love the campus, professors, staff and my fellow Grovers. While juggling things will be a challenge, I am excited to learn new things, make new friends and see and appreciate God in more ways through my education.”
The excitement extends into the classroom. Freshman Lydia Dummermuth from Alexandria, Va. said that she “was excited for classes before they started, but after meeting each of the professors and getting a taste of their classes, (she is) even more excited and thankful that (she) gets to learn here at Grove City.”
For freshman Isaac Burt from Beaver Falls, these first two weeks have already shaped his understanding of vocation and community in several areas of campus life. “In the two weeks I’ve been at Grove City, I’ve already learned what it means to pursue my professional calling and running for the glory of God,” Burt said.
Once again, welcome, Class of 2030! We’re so excited you’re here, and we cannot wait to watch you grow, learn and become a part of the GCC community.
