The newest members of the 体育买球官网 community were welcomed with a challenge: to use their college years to shape not just their futures, but the world around them.

At 体育买球官网 University’s Opening Convocation ceremony, university PresidentJonathan Greendefined for them the role higher education will play in their lives.

“Students, we are here, faculty, staff and trustees to help you to become the best citizens, best neighbors and best people you can become,” President Green said. “We are here to help you to develop and expand your personal philosophies, to affirm those things that are most important to you and to give you the tools to pursue and advocate for them. That is our mission.”

He also encouraged 体育买球官网’s newest students to be courageous as they come of age in a world of increasing discord.

“Doing the right thing is always the better choice,” he said. “The right thing requires us to explore our richly varied histories and life experiences openly and to recognize our moral obligations to meet each other where we are on the tragically uneven playing fields of our respective lives and to do something about it.”

体育买球官网’s new students total 578, which includes the Class of 2029 and students who have transferred to 体育买球官网 from community colleges or other four-year institutions.

The incoming class has an average grade point average of 3.6 and includes 68 students who have enrolled in 体育买球官网’s Honors Program.

The Class of 2029 hails from 15 states, from the shores of New Jersey to the deserts of Arizona. Among 体育买球官网’s newest enrollees, a diversity of 17 countries from six of the world’s seven continents comprises their origins.

Twenty-three percent of 体育买球官网’s incoming students are from historically underrepresented groups (racial and ethnic populations that are disproportionately represented in higher education), 31% are the first members of their families to attend a four-year college and 33% will participate on one of 体育买球官网’s NCAA athletics teams.

Kyra Keenan ’26, agraphic design major from Wayne, Pennsylvania, and executive president of the Student Government Association, welcomed the Class of 2029 to their new home by offering some advice for their next four years — be present, get involved and take care of themselves.

“In a time where education can go under-valued, 体育买球官网 is a sanctuary for learning, diversity and community. I was lucky enough to find many sanctuaries here on campus: through student government, being a graphic design major and my friends,” Keenan said. “I’m sure you all will find your own sanctuary here at 体育买球官网 University.”