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Cheered on by faculty, staff, alumni, and returning students, �鶹ӰԺ University’s Class of 2030 passed through the Welcome Arch and across Main Hall Green on Sept. 8, marking the start of their �鶹ӰԺ journeys.

Families and supporters filled campus throughout Move-In Day as new Lawrentians settled into residence halls and gathered for the President’s Welcome in Memorial Chapel.

The President’s Welcome brought together 391 incoming students, 346 first-year, 29 transfer, and 16 international students, along with their families, faculty, and staff, to celebrate the beginning of their �鶹ӰԺ journeys. The Class of 2030 represents students from more than 37 states and 10 countries. Among U.S. students, the most represented states are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and New York. New international students come from 10 countries, with Canada, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Norway, and South Korea as the most represented countries.

Robert Noak, vice president of enrollment and dean of admissions, reminded students that �鶹ӰԺ intentionally selected them for the community they are now joining.

“While you chose �鶹ӰԺ, it is important to remember something else: �鶹ӰԺ chose you,” Noak said. “We saw in you the qualities that will strengthen this community and help you thrive in it. Class of 2030, welcome to �鶹ӰԺ. Your story starts here.”

Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized belonging, resilience, and the freedom to pursue multiple passions. Tara Winston-Sage ’00, dean of spiritual and religious life, told students they each have a unique role to play in shaping the campus community.

“May you find that you belong here at �鶹ӰԺ, knowing that you are meant to be here, that you will add to this place in only the way that you can, and that our community will be so much stronger because you walked through the arch,” Winston-Sage shared.

Chris Clarke, vice president for student life, encouraged students to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, reminding them that setbacks are a natural part of the college experience.

“Failure here isn’t a dead end. It’s a chance to get better, to lift yourself up, and learn from that failure,” Clarke said. “For if this experience does not challenge you, it will not change you.”

Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of the faculty, shared the purpose of a liberal arts and sciences education, noting that the word “liberal” stems from the Latin word liber, meaning free. He said a �鶹ӰԺ education is designed to prepare students to pursue meaningful lives and contribute thoughtfully to society.

President Laurie A. Carter welcomed the newest Lawrentians by sharing the significance of the �鶹ӰԺ Arch, a tradition that symbolizes both the beginning and culmination of a student’s �鶹ӰԺ experience. She challenged students to stretch beyond their comfort zones, embrace intellectual curiosity, and develop the ethical leadership skills needed to address real-world challenges. Carter also announced the opening of The Hub, a new downtown facility dedicated to wellness, athletic training, music practice, and holistic student development.  

“Higher education is not simply preparation for a job; it is preparation for a meaningful life,” President Carter said. “The arch stands as a reminder that education is both a journey and a transformation.”

�鶹ӰԺ traditions were also highlighted during the Welcome ceremony as LUCC President Brook Schara ’27 inspired students to become active participants in shaping campus life.

“Being a Lawrentian is a privilege, a gift, and a hard-earned opportunity,” Schara said. “It’s an open-door invitation to learning, leading, and belonging. You’re not just going to �鶹ӰԺ; you’re helping define and create it.”

The continuity between generations of Lawrentians was reinforced when Maggie Schmidt ’12, president of the �鶹ӰԺ University Alumni Association, introduced the passing of the Class Colors, a tradition that started at Milwaukee-Downer College, a premier women’s college that consolidated with �鶹ӰԺ in 1964. Faith Onukaogu from the Class of 2026 formally presented the Class of 2030 with its red class banner, symbolizing the newest students’ place within the �鶹ӰԺ community.

“You are joining a community of more than 22,000 alumni across the globe,” Schmidt said. “You are a student for four or five years, but you are forever a Lawrentian.”

The sense of belonging celebrated throughout the ceremony was already taking shape for many new students. Classmates, volunteers, and residence hall extraordinaries helped ease the transition to campus, while the Welcome Arch procession offered an early glimpse of the supportive community that defines the �鶹ӰԺ experience.

“I’m really excited. It’s been a really welcoming community,” Aidan Wilbert ’30 said. “Everybody has been very helpful with move-in and everything. The whole campus seems just amazing, and I’m really excited to start classes.”

As students begin their first days on campus, Kristi Koshuta, first-year dean, reminded them that Welcome Week is about more than learning where classes are located or finding the quickest path to Andrew Commons. It is an opportunity to build confidence, form meaningful connections, and begin creating a sense of home at �鶹ӰԺ.

“My role is to help you find the people, resources, confidence, and perspective you need to create your own path,” Koshuta said. “I hope you learn to navigate uncertainty. I hope you discover strengths you didn’t know you had. I hope you find your voice and learn to listen to others, too.”

Koshuta pointed to a week filled with opportunities to connect, including �鶹ӰԺ Unlocked sessions, small-group activities led by EPIC leaders, and off-campus adventures ranging from kayaking and rock climbing to cooking experiences. Through those shared experiences, Koshuta said, students will begin building the friendships and sense of community that will shape their �鶹ӰԺ journeys.

“The community you are hoping to find does not happen by accident,” Koshuta told the Class of 2030. “It happens when people are willing to show up, take risks, and be present for one another.”

Fall term classes begin Sept. 14. By then, members of the Class of 2030 will have already begun building the relationships, confidence, and sense of belonging that will shape their �鶹ӰԺ journeys for years to come and position them to make an impact far beyond the �鶹ӰԺ campus.