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We are excited to welcome 585 new first-year students as members of ������’s Class of 2029. They join 34 transfer students, 20 international students, new faculty and staff, and visiting scholars who all begin their paths of discovery, service and growth here on campus.

The incoming class comes from far and near, creating a vibrant, global community. Our new first-year students hail from as close as two miles away – like Bryanna Pierre ’29 – and from as far as 6,800 miles away, with Maho Wakimoto ’29 joining ������ from Ota-ku, Japan. Other students made notable journeys as well, including Tess Telzrow ’29, who traveled 2,500 miles from Seattle, Washington, to make ������ her home.

Also among this year’s newcomers are 20 legacy students whose parents are proud ������ alumni. Their presence is a testament to the enduring impact of a ������ education.

“Your academic journey at ������ will challenge you, inspire you and transform you in ways you cannot yet imagine,” said student government president Simar Jagpal ’27 to the Class of 2029 during this year’s Convocation, a tradition that welcomes new students into our academic community.

In her remarks, Jagpal emphasized three words that she hopes will guide their ������ experience: courage, community and curiosity.

Courage

As Jagpal reminded the class, courage is at the heart of every new beginning – and nowhere is that more evident than in the journeys of our international students who have crossed oceans to join our community.

Our 10 international first-year students bring perspectives from Burundi, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Switzerland. Their presence enriches ������’s classrooms and campus life with diverse cultural perspectives and global insights.

Courage, Jagpal noted, isn’t only about where you come from – it’s also about how you grow once you arrive.

“This place and its people have a way of showing you that you’re capable of more than you think,” she said. “Over these next four years, you will face moments that require you to step outside of your comfort zone. I challenge you to embrace them. Those moments will become turning points that shape your growth as a student here at ������.”

For some, courage began with a simple but meaningful choice – saying yes to ������.

A special shoutout from this year’s Convocation also highlighted first-year student Luca Garritano ’29, who was the very first member of the Class of 2029 to commit to ������.  

That spirit of dedication and excitement sets the tone for the months ahead as the class begins building friendships, pursuing academic interests and making their marks.

Community

If courage marks the beginning of every journey, community is what sustains it. At ������, community weaves students into a shared story of belonging and purpose.

For many new Seahawks, the first step in building community came through service. Over 40 first-year students took part in our annual Service Plunge, a program that introduces first-year and transfer students to social justice and civic engagement through hands-on volunteering at local nonprofits.  

“At ������, community is not just a word we use lightly; it is the heart of who we are,” said Jagpal.

They arrived on campus early and dove right in, rolling up their sleeves to serve Save the Bay, Lucy’s Hearth, Aquidneck Community Table, Boys Town New England and more – all while beginning to connect with the place they’ll soon call home.

“Community is not only something you receive; it is something you contribute to," said Jagpal. “Lift others up, celebrate one another’s successes and remember that the strength of ������ lies in the ways we care for one another.”

Curiosity

Jagpal left the Class of 2029 with one last piece of advice.

"Let your curiosity lead you – not only into subjects you’re already passionate about, but into areas that might be unfamiliar. Curiosity is at the heart of the academic journey you are beginning today. It transforms lectures into discoveries and assignments into opportunities," she said.

As ������ enters a new academic year, the arrival of the Class of 2029 reflects the University’s commitment to educating students who are prepared to engage with the world through the values of mercy, justice and compassion. Whether arriving from across the globe or from right here in Rhode Island, each new Seahawk adds a unique voice to the community, contributing to the ongoing ������ story.