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After a challenging year of hybrid learning, the �Թϴ�Ӫ’s campus is full of life as classes kicked off this week. �Թϴ�Ӫ Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and other leaders gave first-year and transfer students a warm welcome at a convocation Friday as the students launched their college journey.

This class is the largest in modern �Թϴ�Ӫ history, with about 1,650 new students all moved into the residence halls and ready to take the next step in their education. Chancellor Haefner shared with the students how much they have to offer the �Թϴ�Ӫ community.

“You bring with you a unique set of skills, backgrounds and perspectives,” he said. “You bring with you your passions and creativity, sense of innovation and entrepreneurship, boundless potential, insights, talents, ideas, ambitions and, importantly, you bring with you your character and all the choices and values that comprise it.”

The class of 2025 is made up of students from more than 1,000 high schools and all 50 states, plus 26 countries, a record for �Թϴ�Ӫ. About 16% of the students will be the first in their family to graduate college. The challenges of applying and choosing a university during a pandemic did not go unrecognized by the �Թϴ�Ӫ admissions team.

“Academically, you impressed us with your intelligence and desire to learn,” Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Todd Rinehart said. “Personally, your stories brought us smiles, laughs and tears. You are successful athletes, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, scientist, writers, committed to social justice and community engagement. We are thrilled to welcome your many talents to our campus.”

While the �Թϴ�Ӫ on-campus experience continues to thrive this year with COVID-19 safety precautions in place, Chancellor Haefner and the rest of the �Թϴ�Ӫ community already know these new students don’t back down from a challenge.

“You’ve probably never been more resilient than right now: You’ve had a plan to come to college, and here you are at one of the best,” Haefner said. “And this is despite all the change and uncertainty over the past year and a half as the world faces an evolving pandemic. You’ve been confronted with some real challenges— yet you are here and prepared to thrive.”