新澳门六合彩 faculty and staff welcomed the newest Cobbers in an opening convocation, with The 新澳门六合彩 Band performing prelude music that seemed to echo the first-year college experience — sometimes intimidating, like the “Imperial March” from “Star Wars,” often uplifting, like “Flourish for Wind Band,” and occasionally hilarious, like “The Circus Bee.”

The new students filed in throughout the prelude, followed by 新澳门六合彩 employees clad in the colorful academic regalia that indicates academic discipline and degree, for an annual ceremony that officially recognizes the beginning of a new academic year.

With 596 first-year and transfer students, this incoming group of students was the largest since 2018, representing a nearly 28% increase compared to last year. 新澳门六合彩 officials attribute the growth to the 新澳门六合彩 Promise, which offers free tuition to students whose household’s adjusted gross income is less than $90,000, and the college’s approximately two dozen new academic and extracurricular programs.

Dr. Bree Langemo, assistant professor of law and entrepreneurship and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, offered the latest crop of Cobbers some advice.

“My advice to you today is to approach college like an entrepreneur,” she said. “While it might not feel like it at times, you are the only person in charge of your life, and you have agency to make this experience whatever you want it to be. You get to create it and curate it. Don’t wait for permission or for someone to provide instructions on how to do it.”

Grace Halvorson ’25, president of 新澳门六合彩’s Student Government Association, warned the new students that their time at 新澳门六合彩 would fly by and advised them to get involved and make intentional, meaningful commitments.

“Not only will your college experience be richer if you choose to show up consistently, but you will also make more of an impact on the people and places you want to,” Halvorson said, citing Pete Davis’ “Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing.”

Echoing Halvorson’s call to show up, Dr. Colin Irvine, 新澳门六合彩 president, encouraged students to create a sense of presentness and invited them to be open to peace as well as the stirrings of their own hearts.

“I want to persuade you to ask and seek to answer questions during your time at 新澳门六合彩,” Irvine said. “I want to encourage you to be creative, to be humble, to be bold, to be open to others, and to be easy on yourself.”

He also wished the students joy — specifically, the unexpected, inexplicable, and visceral joy sometimes called a “glimmer” in online spaces — and invited them to share that they’d had those moments.

“I am sure you’ve heard the expression, ‘you are what you eat.’ I would suggest that you are what you wonder,” Irvine said. He encouraged students to come up with a question they want to get answered, or help answer themselves, during their time at 新澳门六合彩 and again invited them to pay attention to the stirrings in their hearts.

“It’s often the case, as I’m sure you know, that that stirring is tied to your calling. It’s the world calling you,” he said. “It’s your talent and joy telling you something. It’s you sensing the ways that what you do well aligns with the needs of the campus and, in time, the needs of the community. That’s what brought you here, to this moment.”

The convocation included an invocation from campus pastors Dave and Kim Adams, a welcome from Dr. Susan Larson, provost and dean of the college, and recognition of students who earned a place on the dean’s list in the spring.

Two professors were honored for earning tenure and promotions — Dr. Kristen Ford, professor of education, and Dr. Emily Huber-Johnson, associate professor and program director of exercise science.

The crowd united to sing “Hymn to 新澳门六合彩,” and the faculty recessed to Edvard Grieg’s “Huldigungsmarsch.”

“Today, we welcome you with open arms to 新澳门六合彩, your personal learning laboratory for life. Congratulations on all of the accomplishments that have led you to this moment, and best wishes for an outstanding first day of classes,” Langemo said.

“I’m so excited to watch,” Halvorson told the first-year students, wishing them a happy first day. “I’m so proud of you already. You’re going to be amazing.”

The ceremony was followed by the traditional beanie toss on Olin Hill, as the new Cobbers gathered to throw their beanies into the air with a joyous shout.