By Braden Weinel//
Approximately 300 first-year students began their college experience on Sunday, Aug. 21, with the long-standing Hood tradition… the dinking ceremony.
This year, the freshman class color is yellow. The class of 2026 earned their dinks during convocation, the closing of fall orientation.
Orientation for the 2022-2023 school year began on Friday, Aug. 19 and included events and activities such as an Italian ice social, a late-night scavenger hunt and a rock, paper, scissors tournament.
First-year student Brooke Harper said that she was a little nervous coming into college, but having orientation eased some of those nerves.
“Orientation was definitely helpful in finding where your classes are but also being able to ask as many questions as you have,” Harper said.
The students in the class of 2026 come from many different states, cultures and backgrounds. 17 first-year students were born in a different country.
“They are definitely the leaders of tomorrow,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Bill Brown said.
The freshman class entered college with the highest high school GPA ever at Hood.
Brown added that, although we have started to return to normalcy, COVID-19 has changed the personality of the class of 2026 by making them stronger and more adaptable.
“They’re blazing the trail, and I am so thrilled to have played a part in this,” Brown said.
According to Brown, he anticipates an increase in the number of incoming students in future years. He said that this is mainly due to the many new projects and programs that Hood is starting or growing, such as a new building for the nursing department and a women’s ice hockey team.
Brown said that a class size of around 300 students is standard for Hood College. The largest class size Hood has welcomed was the class of 2025, which had 328 students.
Harper said that now she is excited for college, and that she hopes to create a ton of memories and relationships that will stick with her throughout her time at Hood.
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