University Welcomes Class of 2016

Aug 28, 2012
More than 100 members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2016 gave back to the local community as volunteers at the Back to School Bonanza, a free event meant to help area children prepare for the start of the school year.
More than 100 members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2016 gave back to the local community as volunteers at the Back to School Bonanza, a free event meant to help area children prepare for the start of the school year.

The University of Scranton welcomed the 971 members of the class of 2016 this weekend, as well as to more than 70 transfer students and more than 200 new graduate students.

The class of 2016 has already made the record books at Scranton, being drawn from 9,673 applicants – the largest applicant pool in the Jesuit school’s history. This is the 10th time since 2000 that the University has set a record for undergraduate applications.

The class of 2016 has an average SAT score of 1,134 and includes 20 valedictorians and salutatorians with many representing local high schools, such as Pittston Area, Mid Valley and Scranton. Incoming students represent 424 high schools, 19 states and Ireland. California, Michigan, Illinois and Texas are among the most distant states represented by incoming students, along with more than 20 percent of the class who are from northeast Pennsylvania. Majors represented by the most students include biology, nursing and occupational therapy.

The class of 2016 includes 92 legacy children of University of Scranton alumni, including 17 legacy students from alumni couples.

The Fall Welcome program included a New Student Convocation, at which the “Class of 2016” banner was introduced, mass, a class photo, “Royal Olympics,” and residence hall and commuter meetings, among other activities. A new community service event added this year gave incoming students the chance to help area children and their families prepare for the upcoming school year. The Back to School Bonanza, held at Lackawanna County Courthouse Square and offered free of charge to area children, included educational games, prizes, refreshments, music and other activities. The event was organized by the University’s Center for Student Engagement in cooperation with the Center for Service and Social Justice, Office of Community Relations and Lackawanna County.

An orientation for graduate and non-traditional students took place on Thursday, Aug. 23. Incoming graduate students represent several states and foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, China and Kenya and three Fulbright teaching assistantship scholars from Tunisia, Japan and Columbia.

Classes for the fall semester began on Monday, Aug. 27.

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