New students. Familiar faces. Cherished campus traditions. Back-to-school season is in full swing as Whittier College kicks off its 2024-25 academic year.
The incoming first-year class hails from 22 states and 27 countries, with enrollment up 45% from last year.
“The campus is beautiful, so walking around and meeting everybody is great,” said first-year Mia Lopez of Las Vegas.
Mac Turnbull, a third-year international transfer student from the United Kingdom studying political science, said he was excited for his first week of attending school in America and to meet his fellow students.
“I’m going to learn loads of skills from going to a completely new country and completely new culture,” he said.
The President's Convocation and Light of Learning in Harris Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 18, launched this semester’s orientation program. This powerful, decadeslong tradition marks the formal beginning of the Poet experience.
During the ceremony, President Kristine Dillon ’73 quoted the school’s namesake, poet John Greenleaf Whittier: “Success is failure turned inside out.”
She added, “College is a time for delving deeper into new fields and new ideas. Your explorations and interactions won’t always be exciting, fun, or even rewarding. But I encourage you to dig deeper into those unfamiliar ideas until you reach at least a respectful relationship with both ideas and people. Remind yourself of this especially when you find different perspectives and new knowledge coming from others quite different from yourself.”
The old tradition of signing The Rock also returned Monday after a hiatus. Silver signatures now adorn the landmark’s fresh coat of purple paint, and the occasion was memorialized in a class photo.
“Orientation has been fun,” said Lopez. “I'm excited to just see who's in my classes. I’m on the soccer team, and my favorite part has been being a part of that culture and strong community.”
Wednesday saw the unveiling of the Poet MoWheel on the Upper Quad. Students enjoyed music, popsicles, games, and more as they got a peek at the new institutional staple. The concession cart aims to bring vibrancy to campus by offering snacks and drinks during music performances, art displays, and other activities around campus.
Poet MoWheel also serves as a fundraising tool, with proceeds from items sold going to the student club that “rents” the cart for the day.
Garrett Dykier, a third-year biochemistry major and swimmer from Chino Hills, noticed the energy on campus as he grabbed treats from the Poet MoWheel.
“I am very, very happy to see how much Whittier has changed since our new president got here,” Dykier said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what else Whittier will put on.”
Have a good story idea? Share it with us.
