College welcomes Class of 2020

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College welcomed the Class of 2020 Friday with its first-year student move-in and Opening Convocation.

This year’s group includes more than 300 first-year, transfer and international students. The new students moved into their rooms, picked up their laptops, made their traditional march along Brother Martin’s Walk and were admitted into the incoming class during Opening Convocation.

This group of first-year students is coming to campus in the midst of a milestone year as Thiel College is celebrating its sesquicentennial. The College is recognizing its 150th anniversary with special events and during traditional proceedings such as Homecoming and Academic Honors Convocation.

“This is a special year for these students. They stand at the starting line of a four-year journey full of promise and opportunity, but it is also special for me, too,” said Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., who took office Aug. 1 as the College’s 20th president. “I consider myself a first-year, too. I am getting to know our students and campus better and will be sharing the stories of our talented and creative students with alumni and friends of the College.”

Activities continued through the weekend. Fall athletes and band members started reporting to campus two weeks ago. The rest of the student population moved in Sunday and classes began Monday.

This year’s class represents a 37 percent increase over last year’s incoming class. The class comprises 17 states, and the top five states represented are Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Maryland and Florida. The Class of 2020 also makes up the largest class for the College’s Dietrich Honors Institute since its inception in 2012.

• View photos from the event at Flickr.