Lawrence University welcomes students to campus

Lawrence University’s Welcome Week is in full swing as the campus fills with first-year, exchange, and transfer students. The seven-day-long event includes move-in, activities, and gatherings designed to welcome the Class of 2029 and help make them feel at home by connecting with faculty, staff, alumni, and returning students. 

The remainder of Lawrence students will move into residence halls and other residential spaces over the weekend of Sept. 13-14. Welcome Week leads directly into the start of the fall trimester, with classes beginning on Monday, Sept. 15. 

This year's incoming students include 309 first-year students and 39 transfer students, who come from across the United States and around the world to study at Lawrence University. The top home states are Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, California, Colorado, and New York. International students are represented by 16 different countries around the globe, with a strong presence from Japan, Canada, and South Korea. Lawrence isn't just a campus in Wisconsin; it's a community with roots around the globe.  

“My move-in experience was really good,” said Kylie Hatch, an incoming freshman and neuroscience and psychology major. “My roommate was actually already here for international move-in, so she helped me. It was super easy and everyone was super helpful.”

Welcome Week marks the beginning of a new chapter for students as they embark on their journey of higher education and find their place in a community of critical thinkers. 

“I moved into Colman, and it was really nice because everybody was very friendly, said first-year student and psychology major, Vivianne Affatato. “Everybody was really excited and supportive. It was like, friends immediately.”

Angela Vanden Elzen, associate professor and reference and learning technology librarian, emphasized the joy of Welcome Week and the energy that incoming freshmen bring to campus. 

 “Welcome Week is always so fun; seeing all the students excited about starting something new really brings a lot of energy back to campus.” 

New students to Lawrence University lined the sidewalk between the newly opened West Campus building and Main Hall Green for the traditional walk through the Welcome Arch. Faculty, staff, alumni, and students all cheered and welcomed the incoming Class of 2029 to campus. The Lawrence school spirit rang loudly and highlighted its tight-knit community.  

Natalie Reathaford, a first-year student and neuroscience and biology major, relished taking part in one of Lawrence’s favorite traditions of welcoming students to campus through the Welcome Arch. 

“Walking through the arch, it was exciting to see our upperclassmen come and cheer us on and support everyone coming to Lawrence. It was a great experience.” 

Reathaford said she selected Lawrence because of its small but vibrant community. She wanted a tight-knit community but didn’t want to be left in the middle of nowhere. The city of Appleton and the surrounding Fox Cities offer students a unique environment because it has a small-town feel with metropolitan-style benefits. 

“I was looking for a place that was small but also not just cornfields, so I think having this as a small campus, having a tight-knit, close community of professors and students, as well as a great soccer team that I wanted to be on, it was just perfect. And then the thing that really sealed the deal was the placement of where Lawrence was and how close everything was. There’s an airport nearby, there’s tons of food, there’s coffee shops—just everything nearby that I could ever want.”

George Taylor, a first-year tuba major from Hayward, Wisconsin, said he chose Lawrence because of its renowned conservatory of music. Taylor has been playing tuba for over eight years. In addition to his studies, he looks forward to playing linebacker for the Vikings Football team. 

“The activities at Lawrence really involve you. They make it easy to meet a lot of new people and make friends.” 

After hearing President Laurie Carter’s annual address to new students, Taylor said, “It just made me feel like I really belong here.” 

Matriculation Convocation is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19, at 12:30 p.m. in Lawrence’s Memorial Chapel. President Laurie A. Carter will welcome all students and make remarks to start the new academic year.