On a sunny, Southern California day, more than 550 new students stepped onto the Whittier campus and were greeted with smiling faces as they embarked on their college journey.
New Student Orientation kicked-off on Sunday, September 1, as students, parents, family members, and friends participated in many events throughout campus. Upon arrival, students checked-in and those moving into the residence halls were assisted by the Poet move-in crew.
During the day, students and their guests met with other students, campus leaders, faculty, and staff while exploring the campus and participating in the various information sessions, events, and other activities. Among them was an enormous game on the floor of the Graham Athletic Center, in which the Class of 2023 got to know each other better in lightning-fast ice breakers. To see more photos of Orientation, visit the Whittier College Facebook page.
In the evening, the new students participated in the President’s Convocation and the Light of Learning Ceremony—Whittier’s most significant tradition and one that marks both the initiation of new students into the College and the conclusion of their time at Whittier.
“Here at Whittier College, our mission is to focus on your success, both during your time here as a student, but also when you leave here after graduation,” said President Oubré to the students during her speech. “We do this by living a culture of equity and inclusion. We work hard to ensure that Whittier College is a welcoming place for everyone. We also work hard to ensure that you are provided with all you need to fully engage in learning inside and outside the classroom.”
Read President Oubré’s address to the Class of 2023.
The Class of 2023 includes students from 29 U.S. states—including Oregon, Hawaii, Washington, Colorado, New York, Nevada, and more—and 21 countries, such as Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Italy, and Spain, among others. The new Poets range in age from 17 to 42 and include 61 transfer students, 195 student-athletes, and 86 musicians who play the guitar, violin, piano, trombone, saxophone, cello, and sing.
This year, the Orientation team created special programming for first-generation students, which included panel discussions, information sessions on resources, an evening activity, a scavenger hunt throughout campus, and an excursion into downtown Los Angeles. During the sessions, students had the opportunity to participate in safe conversations about topics that impact them and learn more about the college experience.
Classes for the fall semester begin September 4.
