King’s Welcomes the Class of 2022
King’s welcomed nearly 200 new students into the class of 2022, which represents 34 states and 8 countries.
On August 18, 2018, The King’s College welcomed nearly 200 new students. The class comes to King’s from 34 states and 8 countries, with the greatest numbers of students hailing from Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and New York.
In February 2018, The Chronicle of Higher Education listed The King’s College as 13th in the nation for nationwide student recruitment among private non-profit institutions, and the Class of 2022 continues this trend towards broad recruitment across the United States. The average GPA (3.76) of this incoming class is higher than last year, and the average ACT score, at 27, remains the same as last year’s record high. Twenty-five incoming students are first generation college students, and incoming students are enrolled in each of the nine majors.
King’s faculty and staff have been preparing for these new students all summer. Besides coordinating logistics for a smooth move-in day and new student orientation, each College employee received a prayer card with several new students’ names and the faculty and staff have been praying for these students in anticipation of their arrival.
House executive teams have also been preparing for their new members. On Friday, August 17, executive teams spent the day making sure apartments were ready for new students, putting the final touches on welcome packages, and praying over each room. McKenna Morgan (English ’20), chamberlain for the House of Susan B. Anthony, said, “We really began preparing for our new members in June. Throughout the summer our executive team has been making sure to personally contact every girl in the House by text, email or letter. We have also been intently praying for them, by name, and we prepped some fun SBA starter packs that include pearls and peacock feathers, two of our House’s staples.”
On August 18, new students arrived on campus and started getting settled into their apartments with the help of volunteer teams of students, faculty, and staff. Brianna Surface (PPE ’22) was impressed with the warm welcome she received: “When I moved in, I didn’t even have the chance to feel overwhelmed. I expected to feel really panicked when I came, but the minute that I got out of the car I was swarmed with hugs and I was seeing all the people I’ve been texting and emailing for weeks.” Yahya Chbany (PPE ’22), an international student from Casablanca, Morocco, said he is looking forward to “getting to know people in New York City, especially my classmates.”
Visiting students coming to King’s through the Semester in the City program are also excited about joining the King’s community. Nathan Foster, a Semester in the City student from Azusa Pacific University, said, “The King’s College has got some awesome professors for journalism, and I’m hoping to learn more about the entrepreneurial side of journalism than I have before, and working on honing my craft.”
During this first week of the school year, these incoming students met their House leaders and attended Convocation at the historic St. Paul’s Chapel on Broadway and Fulton Street. They also joined in traditional House welcome dinners with fellow House members. Madeline Marona (PPE ’19), president of the House of Clara Barton, said, “Barton hosts a picnic dinner the Sunday of NSO every year. It’s a tried and true tradition, with lots of food and even more laughter (Bartons are big on laughing). It’s a really great opportunity for the upperclassmen and new students to get to know one another with the historic New York City skyline as the backdrop.”
In addition to House welcome events, the entire student body participates in The Great Race, the citywide scavenger hunt that serves as the first House competition of the school year. Each House competes to find checkpoints throughout the city and to successfully complete the roadblocks at each location. This year, the House of Margaret Thatcher took first place, followed by the House of Ronald Reagan in second and the House of C.S. Lewis in third. The Great Race concluded at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, just south of Grand Army Plaza.
Dean of Students David Leedy said, “I love New Student Orientation. It is a joy to welcome 200 new students into the King’s community and see them embark on an amazing four-year journey. They may be new and little-known this week, but in a very short time they will be beloved members, will grow in profound ways, and will contribute much to our fellowship.”