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������Ƶ’s Class of 2030 committed to uphold the university’s core values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect during the annual Call to Honor ceremony Monday, Aug. 24, in Alumni Gym.

Student Government Association President Michael Swartz ’27 opened the ceremony by reminding students that the Honor Code extends to all aspects of life at ������Ƶ.

“These are more than just four words; they are a guiding star for every decision we make throughout life,” Swartz said.

As part of the ceremony, student leaders representing each class signed the Honor Code book, symbolizing their commitment to the four values.

Swartz encouraged students to view honesty as more than avoiding academic misconduct, noting that the relationships students build with peers, faculty and staff depend on fulfilling commitments and remaining true to their word.

‘Honor matters’

Emily Elrod, assistant teaching professor of mathematics and statistics, reflected on how honor has shaped her 20-year career in education, from public K-12 schools and community colleges to public and private universities.

“Honor matters,” Elrod told students. “To me, honor is reflected through honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect. It matters in the classroom, in our professional relationships, and in the trust that others place in us as individuals and leaders.”

Elrod, who is beginning her fifth year at ������Ƶ, said the opportunities she has received throughout her career have been rooted in relationships built on trust. She encouraged students to think about academic honor not simply as a set of rules designed to prevent misconduct, but as an important part of the learning process and developing character.

Elrod said students can sometimes feel pressure to immediately have the correct answer or succeed from the beginning. Instead, she encouraged them to embrace mistakes, reflection and improvement as essential parts of learning.

“My hope is that students leave the classroom not only with stronger content knowledge, but also with a deeper understanding that honor is not simply about following rules, it is about becoming the kind of person others can trust, respect, and rely on throughout a lifetime,” Elrod said.

Building a strong foundation

Kenzi Maness ’27, a history and political science double major and president of ������Ƶ’s First Generation Society and Phi Alpha Delta, spoke directly to the Class of 2030 about respect, the Honor Code value their class will represent throughout their time at ������Ƶ.

Maness shared how the four values have shaped her own ������Ƶ experience as she prepares to graduate a year earlier than originally expected. Doing so, she said, required honest conversations with professors, organization, self-reflection and an understanding of how much she could reasonably take on.

“If you are not honest with yourself, then you cannot be honest with others,” Maness said.

She compared the four Honor Code values to blocks forming a tower: Removing one can weaken the others and eventually destabilize the entire structure.

“This is a new chapter so build your tower strong and lean on the amazing resources ������Ƶ has to offer when you need to,” Maness said. “The Honor Code sets a standard we are all expected to meet, a standard that strives to make us all better citizens, students, family members, and friends.”

Joining generations of ������Ƶ students

President Connie Ledoux Book then led students in reciting the Call to Honor.

Today we are entrusted with the honorable legacy of ������Ƶ, dedicated to the intellectual, personal and spiritual growth of all its members, to the advancement of knowledge for the good of all, and to the service of local, national and global communities. To that end, we affirm our commitment to the core values of our university:

• We commit ourselves to honesty, being truthful in our academic work and in our relationships with others.
• We commit ourselves to show integrity, being trustworthy, fair and ethical.
• We commit ourselves to responsibility, being accountable for our action and for our learning.
• We commit ourselves to respect, being civil, valuing the dignity of each person, and respecting the physical and intellectual property of others.

With these commitments, we join generations of ������Ƶ students as bearers of its honor.

Book signed the Honor Code book and offered the university’s commitment in return.

“We have pledged our commitment to live these ������Ƶ values,” Book said. “On behalf of the university, I pledge to you that ������Ƶ will do its part to challenge you to grow intellectually, socially and spiritually.”

The ceremony concluded with the singing of ������Ƶ’s alma mater and a final charge from Swartz to remain committed to honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect throughout their years at ������Ƶ.

As they departed Alumni Gym, students received commemorative coins inscribed with the word “Honor” and were invited to sign boards displaying the Honor Pledge on Young Commons, making a public commitment to the values they had pledged to uphold.

“We hope that this coin will help you recall this Honor Code ceremony and your commitment,” Swartz said. “It is what makes a community out of individuals and binds us together as ������Ƶ.”

Nearly 1,600 new ������Ƶ students gathered Under the Oaks for New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22, marking the formal beginning of their academic journey and receiving a challenge to embrace the “enormous opportunity of an ������Ƶ education.”

“We are intentionally seated here, under this beautiful canopy of century-old oak trees,” said Book. “These oak trees have weathered challenges and withstood change. They are symbolic of a strength that will unfold in each of you in the years ahead.”

A celebration of who you are

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the annual ceremony with the invocation, reminding students of this special moment in their life and college experience.

“It is a celebration of who you are—and who you are becoming,” said Boswell. “You have arrived at this place, at this crossroads, from which you will embark upon a journey that will increasingly become your own. So, begin from a place of confident centeredness.”

On their way to the ceremony from Alumni Gym, students walked through Alamance Building and passed the bell that once hung in Old Main before the building was destroyed by fire in 1923.

Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley used the history of the bell to remind students that ������Ƶ’s recovery from that devastating fire was possible because members of the community came together. Classes resumed within a day, and Commencement was held Under the Oaks that spring.

“That’s what that bell actually stands for,” Dooley said. “Not that hard things happen, you already know that. It’s that ������Ƶ has never rebuilt alone, and neither will you.”

Dooley encouraged students to build relationships with classmates, including those whose backgrounds and perspectives may differ from their own.

“The cure for loneliness, the real key to building community, isn’t finding people who agree with you; it’s finding people who take the time to actually get to know you, including the ones who don’t see it your way,” Dooley said. “Spend your time focused on the person you’re with, instead of the phone you’re carrying.”

Meet the Class of 2030

The nearly 1,600 new undergraduates at Convocation include members of the Class of 2030 and 80 students transferring to ������Ƶ from other institutions. The new students represent 40 states and 19 countries, including Spain, Singapore, Norway, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand. Among them are 203 first-generation college students.

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams spoke of the “breadth and depth of the experience of our new students,” highlighting four students who represent the “well-rounded, talented, and compassionate” Class of 2030

• Josh Cox ’30 from Wilmington, Delaware plans to study engineering, and was a decorated high school athlete in football and track at Archmere Academy, where he was also recognized for his academic accomplishments with an AP Scholar Award. Cox has completed annual athletic training internships with the NFL Los Angeles Rams every year since 2018. He was also selected to participate iExplorers Post 9-week course on government-grade aircraft manufacturing.
• Laura Kate Galbreath ’30 is a high-level cyclist from Greenville, South Carolina who plans to study business analytics & AI. In 2023 she competed in the USA Cycling Amateur and Junior Road National Championships, demonstrating her well-rounded skills by finishing 3rd in the road race, 4th in the time trial, and 5th in the criterium. She’s also a cellist with her school’s chamber orchestra and taught leadership through mountain biking to younger girls in her hometown through the GRIT program.
• Anna Gratz ’30 from Sugar Land, Texas plans to major in public health studies and is this year’s recipient of the William R. Kenan Honors Scholarship, ������Ƶ’s highest academic award.  She earned the Girl Scouts Gold Award and developed a toolkit to help children with disabilities to explain their disabilities to classmates, along with a website that she shared with Texas Children’s Hospital, school counselors nationwide and disability advocates.
• Binita Shaw ’30 from Udhailiyah, Saudi Arabia plans to major in biology, and graduated from Western Reserve Academy high school in Hudson, Ohio. Binita has been involved in immunology research on neuroblastoma, including studying the CRISPR knockout effects of a Glioblastoma gene through Cleveland Clinic, presenting the results at a national scientific conference, and publishing the study in the Journal of Immunology. She was also recognized for her efforts to secure a grant to support Read Nepal, an organization for which she served as a science and math tutor.

Students were also introduced to the faculty members who will help guide their academic experiences. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Deandra Little highlighted ������Ƶ’s teacher-scholar-mentor model and recognized four 2026 faculty award recipients: Scott Proudfit, associate professor and chair of English; Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography; Ryan Johnson, associate professor and chair of philosophy; and Sandra Reid, associate teaching professor of human service studies.

Kohn encouraged students to get to know their professors, seek assistance when they need it and fully engage with their courses.

“������Ƶ has never rebuilt alone, and neither will you.”

Jon Dooley, vice president for student life

Keep moving

That message of relying on others was also at the center of remarks from Student Government Association President Michael Swartz ’27. He recalled struggling in a course during his first semester and wondering whether he belonged at ������Ƶ.

Rather than dropping the course, Swartz followed his parents’ advice to stay, seek assistance and give the class his best effort.

“I learned that asking for help is not proof that you are unprepared,” Swartz said. “But often, it is the first sign that you are ready to grow.”

Three years later, Swartz told the new students that the experience taught him a lesson extending far beyond the grade he eventually earned: don’t let challenges get you down.

“Remember that the goal is never to walk perfectly,” Swartz said. “It is to get back up, laugh when you can, accept the hand beside you, and keep moving.”

In her address, President Book emphasized that while students will learn about new technologies and the latest discoveries in their fields, an ������Ƶ education remains centered on human values and relationships, and a “very real sense of your own power, your own human intelligence to shape the future.”

“At the core of ������Ƶ are the fundamental values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. Values embraced in our honor code. Human values that are impossible to capture via artificial intelligence,” said Book.

A symbol of hope

Book also led students through a “human bar graph,” an exercise illustrating the opportunity represented by attending a private, residential university and the network of faculty and staff prepared to support them. As she instructed groups of students to stand as representatives of different groups such as those who attend community college, four-year public schools, private universities, etc., one student, Ava Hunter ’30, was left standing representing “private, residential colleges and universities like ������Ƶ.”

“Ava, you symbolize the hope expressed in the model we have designed and deliver here at ������Ƶ,” Book said.

At the conclusion of Convocation, students received an acorn, an ������Ƶ tradition symbolizing the beginning of their growth at the university. In four years, the Class of 2030 will be Under the Oaks again for Senior Baccalaureate, where they will receive an oak sapling.

The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by Jocelyn Bogart, Maya Spencer and Keller Knight and the singing of ������Ƶ’s alma mater before students recessed through a line of faculty members.

Book left the Class of 2030 with a challenge to take ownership of their journey.

“This enormous opportunity of an ������Ƶ education requires action on your part, a commitment to taking full advantage of all we have here,” Book said. “We invite you to a powerful journey of questions and curiosity that will shine new light and new understanding.”

Nearly 1,600 new students arrived at ������Ƶ on Friday, Aug. 21, as the university welcomed the Class of 2030.

Despite a mix of rain and sunshine, staff members in Student Life and Residence Life worked to make the Move-In Day process as seamless as possible for students and their families. Student organizations and ������Ƶ Athletics teams also lent a hand, helping unload vehicles and carry students’ belongings into their new homes.

Familiar items in a new home

For many members of the Class of 2030, those belongings include more than the essentials for college life. As they begin a new chapter at ������Ƶ, students brought photographs, books, keepsakes and other reminders of the people and places they call home.

Ale Furano ’30 arrived at ������Ƶ from Greenwich, Connecticut, with three Polaroid photos of his family and friends. A Communications Fellow who plans to study sport management, Furano said he is looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

“I’m excited to meet new people and have a great opportunity and a new way of life,” Furano said. “I think the opportunities at ������Ƶ are really great, especially in the sport management field.”

Avery McTigue ’30, who plans to study nursing, is looking forward to joining clubs and organizations and exploring study abroad opportunities. Among the items making her new room feel more like home is an ������Ƶ-themed Jellycat plush toy with a special connection to her friends.

“The special item I brought from home is my ������Ƶ ‘Jellycat,’” said McTigue, who is from Bergen County, New Jersey. “My friends threw a ‘bed party’ for me, and it reminds me of them. Basically, they decorate your whole room, and it’s all ������Ƶ stuff.”

For George Schneider ’30, from Seattle, Washington, the move to ������Ƶ meant finding room for his vinyl collection. Schneider chose ������Ƶ because of its acting program. The Princeton Review recently ranked ������Ƶ No. 1 for Best College Theater, while The Hollywood Reporter included ������Ƶ on its list of the “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.”

“I’m very excited to be independent and expand on my training,” Schneider said. “I brought my record player and about 20 of my records. I knew I wasn’t going to bring a lot for my room, but I wanted to bring something to remember home by.”

An avid reader, Ryan Parker ’30, who plans to study journalism, made sure one of her books made the trip from Dallas, Texas. For Parker, attending ������Ƶ also means experiencing a new part of the country.

“I chose ������Ƶ because I felt it was the best for me, and I felt it would be a good transition as well,” Parker said. “I’m most excited to meet new people, especially being from Texas and being in a different part of the country.”

A class from around the world

The students arriving on campus bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and academic interests. Members of the incoming class come from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

The most represented states are North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters ������Ƶ with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics & AI, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last year’s incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The community classroom experience

Those statistics are reflected in the individual journeys bringing students to ������Ƶ.

Alexis Jacobs ’30 of Westport, Connecticut, was drawn to the university because of its size and sense of community. To personalize her new space, Jacobs brought handmade frames filled with reminders of the people, places and experiences important to her.

“I made these frames with different prints, photos, places I’ve been and family members,” Jacobs said.

Peter Matijevic ’30, who plans to study business analytics and applied mathematics, brought a reminder of his Massachusetts roots: a Drake Maye NFL jersey.

“It reminds me of Massachusetts and my favorite NFL player,” Matijevic said. “I chose ������Ƶ because it’s a beautiful campus and has small classes, so I could get to know my teachers.”

������Ƶ’s teacher-scholar-mentor model among its faculty is a touchstone of the university’s academic experience. For five years in a row, ������Ƶ has been ranked best in the nation for undergraduate teaching, and The Princeton Review recently ranked the university as No. 4 Best Classroom Experience.

Following Move-In Day, students attend New Student Orientation, including New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The incoming class represents a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, with students coming to ������Ƶ from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries. Among the countries represented are Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters ������Ƶ with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

The most represented states include North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last year’s incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The Class of 2030 will arrive on campus Friday, Aug. 21 for Move-In Day, kicking off New Student Orientation and the start of their ������Ƶ journey.

Friday, Aug. 21
Move-In Day

All students will be assigned a specific move-in time, which can be found on their Acorn Account. Upon arriving to campus, students and families must report to central check-in at Schar Center. Students will then receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location. Each neighborhood has specific driving directions, which can be viewed on the map below.

New Student Orientation

All new students are required to attend new student orientation, which starts on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 21, and goes through Monday, Aug. 24. On Friday, students will meet their orientation leader for the first time and, throughout orientation, they will have multiple opportunities to interact with their orientation leaders. More activities on Friday include students learning about their residential neighborhood or campus community (for off-campus students) and having fun at Late Night ������Ƶ.

Saturday, Aug. 22
New Student Convocation

The Class of 2030 will be welcomed to the university Under the Oaks by President Connie Ledoux Book during New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22. Students will first meet in Alumni Gym at 8 a.m. and hear from Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, before walking through Alamance Building and gathering with friends and families Under the Oaks. During the procession, students will pass the bell that hung in “Old Main” before the building was destroyed in the fire of 1923.

If family members want a bite to eat before New Student Convocation, they can stop by the special Parent and Family College Coffee in Citrone Plaza. College Coffee brings together students, faculty and staff each week for food and fellowship.

During convocation, students will receive their acorns, an ������Ƶ tradition since 1999, which symbolizes the beginning of their ������Ƶ journey. As they prepare to graduate in spring 2030, students will receive an oak sapling at the Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a symbol of their transformation during their time at the university.

Later in the day, students can meet with their academic advisors and ������Ƶ 1010 Peer Educators and then say goodbye during the Family Send-Off Picnic at several locations: West Koury Lawn, West Moseley Lawn and Martin Alumni Center Wristbands are required and can be purchased at the Orientation Headquarters in the Moseley Student Center. Students eat for free with a meal plan.

Events are planned for families throughout New Student Orientation. However, if families cannot attend, they can always reach out to the Office of Parent Engagement with questions or concerns. Students have additional programming that afternoon and into the evening starting at 4:00 p.m. Orientation events are mandatory for all new students.

Monday, Aug. 24
Call to Honor

On Monday, all new students will commit to the university’s Honor Code with the Call to Honor at 9:30 a.m. in Alumni Gym. Each incoming class represents one of the four pillars of the ������Ƶ Honor Code: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. Students sign their name on a poster with the ������Ƶ Honor Code and receive a coin with the word “honor” engraved on it. Several other sessions are planned throughout the day, ending with a mesmerizing hypnotist show in Alumni Gym.

Classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

������Ƶ will soon welcome the Class of 2030 on Friday, Aug. 21, for Move-In Day, and ������Ƶ Campus Safety and Police have provided information on changes in traffic and available parking areas.

All new students and families must report first to the central check-in at Schar Center. All incoming traffic should travel to Schar Center from the northern entrance to campus along North Williamson Avenue. At Schar Center, students will receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location for their residence hall. Please follow the driving directions to the Schar Center and then to your Residential Neighborhood.

Due to the logistics related to Move-in Day, ������Ƶ faculty and staff are asked to carpool if possible and to park in the following lots on Friday. The lots are highlighted in yellow on the map below.

• Koury lot
• Oaks lot (parking for staff working at Schar Center Check-in)
• Arts West
• South Campus (no parking in the spaces reserved for Acorn Academy at ������Ƶ)
• Station at Mill Point

Related Articles

• ������Ƶ’s Class of 2030 arrives Aug. 21
• What to know for ������Ƶ Move-In Day 2026
• Opening Day 2026: ������Ƶ celebrates progress and success while mapping the path ahead

As the Class of 2030 arrives on campus and begins their four years at ������Ƶ, current ������Ƶ students offer their advice to the incoming class.

������Ƶ will welcome more than 1,600 new students for the 2026-27 academic year, with the Class of 2030 moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 21.

Parker Sterling ’28

Major(s): Biology and History
�Ѿ��Դǰ���:��Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Peace and Conflict Studies
Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: Phoenix Racing Team (Business Lead), Residence Life (Senior RA), Center for Leadership (Leadership Ambassador), Glen Raven Biomechanics Lab (Lab Assistant)

Why did you choose ������Ƶ?

“I chose ������Ƶ because I knew after the first tour that I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. I loved being able to have majors across disciplines, the campus, the dorms and all of the people I met.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew how common it is to gain and lose friends in the first year. Everyone is discovering who they are and who they want to be, so it may take a while to find friends that you can rely on.”

What advice do you have for the incoming ������Ƶ Class of 2030?

“Take every opportunity that presents itself; you never know who you will meet or what doors it will open.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the bonds I’ve built with faculty and staff. I didn’t have a high school teacher I felt was truly a mentor, but ������Ƶ has given me so many people that I feel confident going to for advice.”

What is your favorite part about ������Ƶ?

“My favorite part about ������Ƶ is the people. I am forever grateful to the amazing friends who have supported me and cared about me to no end. I don’t want to imagine what college would be like without them.”

Ari Verinder ’28

Major(s): Biology (Concentration: Biotechnology/Molecular Biotechnology)
�Ѿ��Դǰ���:��Chemistry and Food Studies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: Residence Life, Club Climbing and The Writing Center

Why did you choose ������Ƶ?

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known to get more involved in my specific interests on campus sooner. There really is something for everybody at ������Ƶ; you just have to find it, get involved, and, best of all, enjoy it!”

What advice do you have for the incoming ������Ƶ Class of 2030?

What surprised you most about college?

What is your favorite part about ������Ƶ?

“Don’t be afraid to meet new people. ������Ƶ is small enough that it’s easy to just stick with who and what you already know, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

-Ari Verinder ’28

Ella Stewart ’27

Major(s): Dance Performance & Choreography, English (Concentration in Creative Writing)
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Campus Involvement: Student Union Board (Brand Engagement Chair), New Student Orientation (Student Coordinator), Kappa Delta member and The Writing Center.

Why did you choose ������Ƶ?

“I chose ������Ƶ because I knew I wanted to make close connections with my professors and classmates, which made the small class sizes very appealing, and ������Ƶ has a strong Performing Arts department, which aligns with my future career goals of being a professional dancer. I also knew I wanted to study abroad and ������Ƶ offers so many opportunities to study around the world. Additionally, I was drawn to the College Fellows program, which is a scholarship program where I conduct a research project within my major throughout my time at ������Ƶ.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known that not every moment of college is going to be absolutely perfect. It’s easy to have high expectations that everything will go smoothly all the time, and while there will be plenty of great experiences and memories, there will also be challenges. It’s completely normal to struggle sometimes, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”

What advice do you have for the incoming ������Ƶ Class of 2030?

“My biggest piece of advice is to put yourself out there! I made my closest friends at ������Ƶ by just inviting myself to hang out with them. It can feel awkward and scary at first to ask people to hang out with you, but it really makes a difference. If there is someone in your class who you think you’d get along with, ask them to lunch or coffee! You can also meet people by getting involved in clubs and organizations, so sign up for what interests you. Getting involved helped me find my place on campus, so be open to trying everything, because that is how you can find your community.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the amount of independence and freedom I suddenly had. It can be hard to adjust to being away from your family and the comfort of home, but you also start learning how to manage your own time and responsibilities. My schedule looked a lot different than it did in high school, and I became the one in charge of how to spend my time. This shift surprised me at first, but overall it helped me grow into my independence and become more confident doing things on my own.”

What is your favorite part about ������Ƶ?

“My favorite part about ������Ƶ is the people I’ve met through my majors and leadership experiences, especially the mentors who have supported me along the way. The staff and faculty here are so kind and encouraging to each individual student, and their guidance has helped me grow in my academics and in my leadership. ������Ƶ has given me a tight-knit community of peers and mentors I can rely on, and I have met so many people who have shaped me into who I am today.”

---

Lealand Oakes ’27

Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus Involvement: New Student Programs, Women’s Club Rugby
Sigma Kappa, ������Ƶ 1010 Peer Educator, Psi Chi and Psychology Honor Society

Why did you choose ������Ƶ?

“I chose ������Ƶ because they genuinely care about every student, even if they haven’t fully invested in ������Ƶ yet. They put so much care into just the admissions process and first-year experience to ensure people feel cared about and seen. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; professors are always there to help and support their students, get to know them beyond the surface level, and truly want to see them succeed.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew that sometimes the hard parts of transitioning to college don’t hit you immediately. They look different for everyone and can range anywhere from after the first month has passed to the start of the second semester and beyond. Everyone has their own experiences, so it is important to know your resources on campus and have people you can go to when those bumps in the road happen.”

What advice do you have for the incoming ������Ƶ Class of 2030?

“Get out of your room, do new things, be involved. This can look different for everyone, but it’s so helpful for finding your people in this new chapter. I would also say that taking care of yourself is so important. Holistic wellness goes a long way in college. If you are taking care of one aspect of wellness that can bleed into another area. Do things that make you happy, take care of your body and use your resources.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was surprised that I was still able to get the same support in class and out of class that I had the opportunity to receive in high school. I was worried that as soon as I got to college, everything would be on me. I can say with full confidence that I have not needed to shoulder everything all on my own. ������Ƶ has so many resources that cover a wide range of aspects of college life.”

What is your favorite part about ������Ƶ?

“My favorite part about ������Ƶ is that there are so many people from so many different places. Coming to ������Ƶ, I didn’t really know many people, and I am so happy that was the case. It was nerve-racking for sure, but it meant that I have learned so much and met so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Below is a selection of events open to the entire ������Ƶ community; more can be found on the official Planning Week website below.

Monday, Aug. 17

Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center; Events start at 8:30 a.m.

Planning Week 2026 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 17, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of ������Ƶ Medallions to Jim Donathan, Don Grady and Mary Thornton. Katy Rouse, professor of economics, will also be named the Trustee Chair for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Following these recognitions, President Connie Ledoux Book will delivery her annual Opening Day address.

Since 2011, the ������Ƶ community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County. Donations can be made at the Opening Day breakfast or at campus drop-off locations through Thursday, Aug. 20. Details on donation sites and needed items will be emailed to faculty and staff. This initiative is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students, Staff Advisory Council, and Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Breakout Sessions

Following the president’s address from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the ������Ƶ community, including:

• Recommendations from the SOAR Strategic Planning Committee
• Building the Innovation Hub: ������Ƶ as a Regional Center for Creativity
• Preparing Together for Student Success
• Thriving Together: The Sport Collaborative and the Opportunity in Club Sports
• Summer at ������Ƶ
• Changing the Trajectory – Roberts Academy and the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning
• HealthEU, the Slattery Center, and Our Research Coalitions
• Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships Implementation Gallary Walk and Next Steps
• Wise Moves During Higher Education Pressures
• School of Engineering and Computing

All members of the ������Ƶ community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of ������Ƶ’s schools and colleges will meet from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Student Employment Essentials
Moseley 215; 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal of the workshop is to provide staff and faculty with an understanding of student employment policies and processes, to include recruiting, job posting, screening candidates, work agreements, payroll, orientation, onboarding, evaluations and termination. Please contact Kameryn Taylor at ktaylor54@elon.edu for any questions about this workshop.

Championing First-Generation Student Success
Koenigsberger Learning Center Room 127; 2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide participants with an understanding of the first-generation community on campus and how ������Ƶ approached first-generation student success. Participants will identify ways they can incorporate ways to support first-generation college students in their classes and extracurricular opportunities.

Merger and Integration Q&A
LaRose Student Commons 200; 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Merger and Integration Q&A
Turner Theatre 101; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Embedding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Belk Pavilion 208; 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Inclusive excellence remains a strategy for creating an academic community reflective of well-being and a sense of belonging. In striving for greater levels of student success and employee vitality, initiatives across the university demonstrate partnerships and efforts to infuse inclusive excellence principles in daily work. This session is an opportunity to gain an update on what is happening to foster respect for human differences and to share ideas for ideas for how faculty and staff might make inclusive excellence embedded rather than additive in teaching, mentoring, and service.

Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Sankey Hall 206; 2 to 3 p.m.

Learn more about the Acorn Academy, ������Ƶ’s partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.

������Ƶ Campus and Community Resource Fair
Sato Commons Great Hall in the Global Neighborhood, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Open to all faculty, staff, and student leaders who may already be back on campus, this event is meant to be an interactive tabling fair to highlight what everyone needs to know to provide resources to students. Explore more than 50 departments/tables – whether you have been here for more than a decade or are brand new to ������Ƶ, come learn about resources for students and faculty/staff, take a moment to reconnect with offices on campus, or learn about opportunities for collaboration and partnerships! Refreshments and Raffle.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Working with Accommodations & Accessibility: A Partnership for Access
Sankey 106; 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

This session will highlight how the Office of Academic Accommodations & Accessibility, the Office of Compliance, the Disabilities Advisory Committee, and faculty partners collaborate to support access at ������Ƶ. Presenters will share updates from the past year, including themes from campus listening sessions, revised faculty/staff resources, accessibility and accommodations data, and practical guidance for supporting students and colleagues.

College Coffee – Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse); 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

������Ƶ’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year’s first College Coffee. Come (re)learn about the ERGs on campus and pick up some Phoenix swag to show your school spirit! College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m to 10:20 a.m.

• Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
• Amazing Admins
• API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
• Black
• Carpool Connections
• Catholic
• Christian
• ������Ƶ Alumni
• Employees with Children
• Jewish
• Latinx/Hispanic
• LGBTQIA+
• Social Media
• Staff Advisory Council
• Supervisors of Student Employees
• Sustainability
• Veterans
• Women’s Forum
• Young Professionals

Friday, Aug. 21

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, Aug. 21. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found online.

Saturday, Aug. 23

New Student Convocation
Under the Oaks (Rain Location: Schar Center); 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students.

University Directory Photos

All ������Ƶ faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’s online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to ������Ƶ, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is now located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue. Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, noted by a red star on this map.

Tuesday, August 18: 2 to 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 20: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

After checking in and creating a nametag, students and parents will have the chance to meet one another, share excitement about the journey ahead and learn which other students from their area will be joining them at ������Ƶ. The conversations often lead to new friendships, familiar faces for move-in day and an early sense of belonging within the university community.

Current ������Ƶ parents serve as hosts, sharing their experiences and offering insights about the transition to college life. Many events are also supported by ������Ƶ staff members, who help answer questions about Move-In Day, New Student Orientation, campus resources and the first-year experience. Together, they provide valuable guidance and reassurance as families prepare for the start of the academic year.

Coordinated by the Office of Parent Engagement, Summer Welcome Events are designed to foster meaningful connections among incoming students, parents and current ������Ƶ families. By bringing members of the ������Ƶ community together in a familiar, casual setting, the gatherings help families feel informed, supported, and connected before students arrive on campus.

For many attendees, Summer Welcome Events mark the beginning of their ������Ƶ experience. Through conversations, shared experiences and new connections, families gain a deeper understanding of the university and the supportive community that will welcome them in August.

Class of 2030 families who are unable to attend a local Summer Welcome Event, Ready, Set, ������Ƶ is a webinar offered with current parents and a student sharing their ������Ƶ perspective and experience. Registration for this webinar will be open in the middle of July, with the event being live in the second week of August.
Families will have an opportunity to submit questions prior to the event, and they can choose from two different timeframes. All incoming parents and students of the Class of 2030 will receive an email to register for Ready, Set, ������Ƶ.

His mom’s coworker, an ������Ƶ alum, suggested the school to Hriciga, knowing what Hriciga wanted from his college experience. With his talent in math, his love of cars and his goal of having a profession in motorsports, Hriciga decided on being an engineering major.

“It was the first school I toured and I loved the campus and then nothing else could compare, ” Hriciga said.

Hriciga began riding bikes when he was young because of his father’s love for mountain biking. From third grade to fifth grade, Hriciga raced cyclocross using road bikes redesigned into off-road bikes that could handle different terrains like mud, snow and rocky areas. He began training on a mountain bike in the fourth grade and then finally racing in competition during middle school. He credits his mountain biking success to having early access to bikes and experience on different types of roads.

“It was scary, because there are hills and you don’t really know what you are doing because you are little. But you push through and then it’s fun,” Hriciga said

Although Hriciga was not the fastest when he first started riding, after joining First Flight USA Cycling Elite Junior Development Team, a mountain bike race team based out of Chapel Hill,, he realized he “could be fast.” First Flight was created by one of Hriciga’s coaches from his high school biking racing team, which gave its racers exclusive access to another professional coach and development training required to get better at the sport. He participated in the Cane Creek Cup MTB series, a sequence of cross-country mountain bike races held predominantly in the North and South Carolina regions, and earned titles as the 2023 State Champion and regional champion.

“The feeling of winning after putting in all that work and training, it pays off,” Hriciga said.

When he first learned how to ride a mountain bike, it was through the organization KOBRA (Kids On Bikes Riding Around). Through his racing career, Hriciga maintained many of the relationships he had found with those coaches and was asked to volunteer back at the same organization that helped him. It was a “full circle moment” for Hriciga as he can share his passion by teaching elementary school students how to ride and leading trips that introduce them to the sport.

Despite the “rigorous ” nature of being an engineering major, Hriciga is determined to do his best to be successful. He is excited about the physics classes and the Grand Challenges in Engineering, a set of courses usually taken in an engineering student’s first year that focuses on teamwork and engineering design through hands-on projects. Hriciga will also be looking into the study abroad opportunities, specifically in Germany.

At New Student Convocation Under the Oaks on Aug. 23, 2025, Bodhi was one of four students from the Class of 2029 who were spotlighted by Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education, due to his achievements.

“I was shocked that my name was called by all people, but I was also very proud that I was deemed worthy of that honor,” Bodhi said

Hriciga does not race currently as he wants to focus on school, but he still cheers on his friends who decided to go pro and will still bike during breaks and the summer. He plans to join ������Ƶ’s chapter of the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, also known as the Phoenix Racing Team, which is a student team that designs and builds an electric race car to compete with other schools.

Hriciga advises student-athletes and everyone with a sport-school-life balance to also focus on their health so their performance in their sport and everyday life is not affected.

“If you are working at a high level, pushing your body to the limit, make sure you are eating,” Hriciga said.

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• The Months in Photos: May
• The Month in Photos: June
• The Month in Photos: July

������Ƶ welcomed the Class of 2029 and new transfer students in August and celebrated the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year.

View some of the most impactful moments of the past month through the eyes of staff in the Office of University Communications.

The Honor Code

The ������Ƶ Law Flex Program in Charlotte enrolled its second cohort of 47 students during New Student Convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at ������Ƶ’s Charlotte center. The Flex Program is a part-time, in-person, evening program for place-bound students in the Charlotte area.

Opening Day

President Connie Ledoux Book presented the ������Ƶ medallion, the university’s highest honor, to Rebecca “Becky” Olive-Taylor, retired executive director of the Koenigsberger Learning Center, and retired Vice President G. Smith Jackson as part of a ceremony that formally opened the new academic year at ������Ƶ.

Making the move

������Ƶ welcomed the Class of 2029 for Move-In Day on Aug. 22. New students arrived from 43 states and 15 countries, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Panama.

A unique welcome

New ������Ƶ students were invited to begin their ������Ƶ career, described by President Connie Ledoux Book as a “powerful journey of questions and curiosity,” at New Student Convocation on Aug. 23, 2025 Under the Oaks. Book led the students in the human bar graph exercise to show the uniqueness of an ������Ƶ education.

College Coffee

Classes began on Aug. 26, along with the first College Coffee of the academic year. College Coffee is one of ������Ƶ’s oldest and most appreciated traditions. This weekly campus-wide event brings ������Ƶ faculty, staff, and students together to build community and develop friendships.