New Students, New President, New Year: Welcome Class of 2028
Hamilton’s new president Steven Tepper, who began at the College on July 1, joined the lively welcoming committee, sporting a tricorne hat, his signature bow tie, and a sign that read “Don’t Ask Me. I’m New Here Too!”
After the new students grabbed room keys, unpacked, and met their roommates, they headed to the Field House for a welcome with Tepper, new Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission John McLaughlin, Dean of Faculty Ngoni Munemo, Dean of Students Chris Card, and Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Sean Bennett.
In welcoming the new students and their families, Tepper spoke about Hamilton’s robust orientation program. “For the past 10 years … we’ve made arrangements for roughly 7,000 first-year students, transfer students, and student and alumni leaders to spend more than 750,000 combined hours hiking, volunteering, painting, canoeing, journaling, farming, beekeeping, trail-building, and serving the local community,” he said.
Acknowledging orientation organizers Tessa Chefalo, Andrew Jillings, and Amy James, Tepper said, “The organizers of the recently concluded Paris Olympics have nothing on the logistical talents of our orientation planners.”
In his first weeks on the Hill, Tepper has already noted that orientation is just one way that students help other students at Hamilton. “Our 100 or so trip leaders join about 400 other [students] in some role as peer mentors, tutors, community assistants. So, about a quarter of our students, every year, have a job they do that involves helping one another,” he said.
Citing the quality of Hamilton’s faculty, its research and internship opportunities, and its facilities, Tepper continued, “But the real difference is the way every student takes care of each other. The way one class helps lift up the next class. It is the best environment ever created for learning, for taking risks, for growing, for discovering who you are.”
Tepper concluded by urging the new class to “Be all in. Engage fully. Go forth and begin building your lives of meaning, purpose, and active citizenship.”
Meet the Hamilton College Class of 2028
Dean of Admissions John McLaughlin provided a profile on the new class:
- They were chosen from one of the largest and most selective applicant pools on record for Hamilton, with about 13% of the 8,500 applicants admitted.
- They hail from 38 states and come from 23 countries on six continents.
- For those who submitted testing, the middle 50% of score ranges were 1460-1530 on the SAT and 33-35 on the ACT.
- 73 members of the Class of 2028 represent the first generation in their family to attend college.
- More than half of the class receive financial aid from Hamilton — around $60 million this year.
- The Class of 2028 speaks 38 languages; they come from 400+ high schools; and the most popular name in the class is Alexander.
“Let me assure you that every single one of you has what it takes to be successful at Hamilton or we would not have admitted you,” McLaughlin said. “The Hamilton community, including your professors and your advisors, trust the Admission Office to make good decisions.”
After students and their families said their goodbyes, opening ceremonies commenced on Steuben Field. Members of the class met with their adventure trip leaders and groups to play rowdy games and enjoy bonding activities before preparing to set out on one of the 56 orientation trips aimed at connecting them with their classmates and introducing them to the area.
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Class of 2027’s First Thoughts on Hamilton
Get to know a few members of the class of 2027 and the courses they loved, their favorite spots on and off campus, and what they are looking forward to doing over the next few years.
Greeted by signs and cheers from orientation leaders lining College Hill Road, 463 new Hamilton students and their families arrived on Aug. 15 for move-in and orientation.
