Class of 2007 is rich in talent, diversity

Stepping onto a college campus for the first time as an actual student can be a daunting experience for anyone. But if anyone can handle this stressful transition, the students who make up the University’s Class of 2007 can.

The approximately 1,375 first-year students hail from all over the world and represent approximately 20 countries, 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They arrived Aug. 21 and have been busy unpacking, learning their way around the Hilltop Campus and gearing up for the fall semester, which began Aug. 27.

Many in the select group were academic leaders, officers in student government and participants in extracurricular activities and athletics in high school. Collectively, the incoming class has received almost 2,200 special awards and recognitions. In addition:

• About 845 students are National Honor Society members;

• 170 were senior class officers, and 337 were officers in service organizations;

• Many served as editors — 93 of yearbooks and 135 of newspapers;

• Musically, 323 were members of their school bands or orchestras and 211 were members of a choir or chorus, and;

• In athletics, 375 were team captains.

“It is a delight to have such a talented and diverse freshman class on campus,” said Nanette H. Tarbouni, director of undergraduate admissions. “We encourage everyone to extend a warm welcome to them.”

In addition to accumulating impressive statistics during their high-school years, the freshmen were chosen from a record number of applicants — more than 20,000.

“We are excited that so many students chose to come to Washington University,” Tarbouni said. “That is quite a compliment to the Washington University community.”