Denison University faculty and staff welcomed the Class of 2021 on Thursday, Aug. 24, as family, friends, the Denison football team and other members of Denison staff helped some 600 students move into their new home. After students unpacked and settled in, they and their families attended the Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2021, featuring a “clap-in” from faculty in academic regalia and words of welcome from Denison President Adam Weinberg and the student body president, Francis Ngoy.
“We are very happy to welcome the Class of 2021 to campus,” said Greg Sneed, vice president for enrollment management. “This is a group of exceptionally talented students in academics, leadership, arts and athletics. We are looking forward to onboarding them to campus life and watching the ripple effect as their positive energies spread throughout the campus.”
The Class of 2021 comprises students from 39 states and 22 countries, 57 percent of them women, 43 percent men. The class continues the college’s commitment to diversity, with 35 percent of the entering class hailing from multicultural backgrounds. This puts Denison in the company of the most diverse liberal arts and sciences colleges in the country. The median SAT score range for the first-year students is 1200-1380, and the median ACT score range is 28-31.
These students will be able to take full advantage of a number of new strategic initiatives that have been introduced in the past several years, including groundbreaking academic programs in global commerce, data analytics, financial economics, journalism and health, exercise and sport studies. The work of the college at the Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration, which focuses on leveraging the college’s significant alumni network, paid internships and the establishment of several innovative career-preparation programs, was recently recognized with an inaugural award by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
More than 80 percent of Denison students take part in an off-campus experience through the college’s expanded global learning programs and partnerships with colleges and universities around the world. Many students also partake in opportunities for research and internships in nearby Columbus, which is trending for college students and graduates and was recently named by Forbes as the top “opportunity city” in the nation. Denison University’s place at the forefront of higher education is recognized by “Colleges That Change Lives,” U.S. News, and Forbes, among others.
Enjoy this video from the induction ceremony for Denison’s Class of 2021.