404 new students begin their journey at Hood

                                                       

By Ellie Cooper

Hood College welcomed 404 new students for move-in on Aug. 18.

Two days later, the first-year students gathered at the Coffman Chapel for the annual dinking ceremony, and later that evening they attended fall convocation in the Hodson Outdoor Theater.

Bill Brown, vice president of enrollment management, noted some interesting facts regarding the incoming students. He said this class represents 16 states, many of the students are bilingual or trilingual, one student has his own business, another works on software development and one has a large TikTok following. Unlike in past years, there were no sets of twins this semester. 

Although all incoming students received at least one achievement scholarship, 48 first-year students and 18 transfer students were accepted into Hood’s honors program, which gives them additional aid.

Hood accepted two students from United World College high schools. One attended the UWC school in New Mexico, and the other,  a citizen of Tanzania, attended the UWC school in East Africa.

Among the majors students listed as potential interests, the most popular were nursing and business, with many also looking at psychology, biology and computer science.

Additionally, Brown said 134 out of the 404 incoming students have been recruited to play on at least one sports team and many students have participated in musical and theater groups, school publications and student government. “You have great experiences, and we look forward to all you bring to the Hood College community,” Brown said.

First-year student Taegan Murphy said she first heard about Hood after she was recruited to the swim team.  Murphy, who is from Pennsylvania, said she wouldn’t be here if Hood hadn’t reached out. She said she is planning on majoring in environmental science and hopes to work in wildlife conservation after she graduates.

The orientation experience was long and exhausting, but also fun, Murphy said. She said she prefers jumping right into a new experience like this, and that the more spare time she has beforehand, the easier it is to overthink and worry herself.

After Brown’s speech, students were invited to their first dinner on campus at the Coblentz Dining Hall. The following day, their first week of classes commenced.