Welcome Class of 2012!

It’s official!

The 616 members of the Class of 2012 have arrived, moved in, and already started classes on Thursday. The slow, sleepy summer days on campus have disappeared – and it’s hard not to feel all of the energy and excitement this new class brings to our community!

There is one important thing you must know about St. Lawrence:
We have several campus traditions!

Our First-Year students are learning this very quickly. One of my favorite traditions (and perhaps the most exciting day of the year for those of us working in Admissions and Financial Aid) takes place the afternoon First Year students officially arrive at St. Lawrence.

Every year, members of the new class and their families gather to attend the Matriculation Ceremony. This is the official welcoming of First Year students by the St. Lawrence community. It takes place outdoors, at the beautiful Creasy Commencement Commons. Four years later, the Class of 2012 will graduate in this same place.

I took a few snapshots during Matriculation – you can see the bagpipers and the great turnout!

President Sullivan opened the ceremony with his remarks, followed by our own Vice President and Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid Terry Cowdrey. Keeping with tradition, Dean Cowdrey introduced the new class to the Faculty and Staff by mentioning all 616 students in her speech!

As I mentioned above, those of us who work in Admissions and Financial Aid always enjoy this ceremony. We feel a great deal of satisfaction and pride in our work, because we finally get to see the faces behind all of the amazing applications we have read. As you read through Dean Cowdrey’s speech, it is very obvious that this class brings diverse interests and a great deal of potential.

Here is the link to the official photo album of Matriculation and Orientation, in case you haven’t already seen it. Below are two more pictures I took:  The First Year "Banner" on the stage, and the Laurentian Singers performing our school songs and Alma Mater.  (Follow this link if you want to hear them sing our songs!)

That’s all for now!
-- John