APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Lawrence University kicked off its Welcome Week festivities Monday with the continuation of a tradition that recognizes their students’ college journeys.
The 355 first-year students and 55 transfer/exchange students who make up Lawrence’s Class of 2028 walked through the Lawrence Arch on their way to Memorial Chapel for the annual welcome address from President Laurie Carter.
As part of the budding tradition, which began when the Lawrence Arch was constructed in 2022, new students walk through the arch at the beginning of Welcome Week, then back through the arch to leave campus after commencement.
Faculty, staff, students, alumni, neighbors and even the school mascot lined the sidewalks of Main Hall Green on Monday to greet the new students with cheers, applause and high fives.
“They will process through the Arch to Main Hall and to the Chapel, and then when they graduate, they actually process out the Arch. So this is kicking off their Lawrentian experience,” explained Kristi Koshuta, first-year dean at Lawrence University.
“We talk about being ‘forever a Lawrentian’ — once a Lawrentian, always a Lawrention,” Koshuta continued. “Processing through the Arch and kicking off their Lawrence experience is just part of what this all is. We always had a tradition with graduation, so by adding the Arch, it allowed us to kick off their experience and now we can close out their experience as Lawrentians.”
Along with the arch walk, opening day of Welcome Week included a family lunch, campus/community resource fair, campus tours and a Class of 2028 photo. The reminder of the week will feature engagement activities helping students get to know their new classmates, campus and the Appleton community.
Lawrence University’s remaining students will move onto campus this weekend. The first day of classes is September 16.
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