Meeting the Class of 2019
From Kenyon News - August 25, 2015
An Intel semifinalist, a Teen Vogue blogger, a peacock fan dancer, a television commentator on social issues in Pakistan, a service worker who helped build a library in Thailand, and a collection of published researchers and writers are among the 493 first-year students joining the Class of 2019. Members of the incoming class, plus 13 transfer students, were welcomed at Convocation on Sunday, Aug. 23, in the Kenyon Athletic Center.
“This year’s 493 first-year students were chosen from Kenyon’s largest and strongest applicant pool of more than 7,000 applications,” Diane Anci, dean of admissions and vice president of enrollment management, said in her address to the new class. “We were wise to choose you, and you were wise to choose Kenyon.”
The newest members of the Kenyon community come to Gambier from 430 high schools and colleges in 42 states and 18 countries. Students from Ohio continue to represent the highest number — 69 — of enrolled students, while 57 students call California home and 50 hail from New York. Of the incoming class, 70 students are attending as the relatives of Kenyon alumni.
This marks Kenyon’s most ethnically diverse class, with 21 percent identifying as domestic students of color. Additionally, first-generation college students make up 9 percent of the class, and Pell grant recipients comprise 10 percent. Expanding the campus’ global community, Kenyon welcomed 20 non-U.S. citizens.
An academically accomplished group, 65 percent of this year’s incoming students graduated in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes, and 42 percent of those reporting grade point averages achieved a 4.0 or higher. They completed an average of five AP courses and four units of science, with 63 percent studying calculus.
“I promise that, given the incredible things that you’ve done up until this point, we will honor and affirm your values and your talents by pushing you hard here,” Anci said. “And we know that you will inspire and push all of us to be our very best.”
Members of the Class of 2019 are participating in Orientation activities, including an academic department fair, a formal class dinner and the traditional first-year sing. Orientation concludes Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. with a community feast along Middle Path.