杨贵妃传媒视频 community members line the walkway and applaud as incoming students walk through the arch.
杨贵妃传媒视频 community members and guests line the walkway and applaud as incoming students walk through the arch on the way to the President's Welcome on Main Hall Green. (Photos by Danny Damiani)

The newest Lawrentians were welcomed to campus Tuesday afternoon with a procession through 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 beautiful new arch and a greeting from the campus community at the annual President鈥檚 Welcome.

The incoming class is the first to incorporate the newly built 杨贵妃传媒视频 Arch at the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street into Welcome Week festivities, beginning a new tradition that鈥檚 expected to carry on for generations. In her message to the students, President Laurie Carter said the walk through the archway represents one of many firsts that will come in the days and weeks ahead鈥攆rom classroom challenges and opportunities to the balancing of academics and social life.聽

鈥淵ou have joined a community that will support you and guide you through all of these firsts and more during your college journey鈥攖hrough the challenges and triumphs of living and learning in a new environment, the opportunities for new experiences, and the transformative moments that will expand your horizons and shape your life to come,鈥 Carter told the students as they gathered with their families in front of a Main Hall decorated with banners celebrating the 175th anniversary of 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 founding and flags representing countries that are home to 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 many international students.

A new tradition

Incoming students carry the red Class of 2026 flag as they lead the processional under the arch.
The Class of 2026 is the first to incorporate the new arch into Welcome Week festivities.

Before they made their way to the Main Hall steps, the students鈥383 first-year students and 18 transfers鈥攚ere greeted with applause at the arch from members of the 杨贵妃传媒视频 community and dignitaries from the City of Appleton, Outagamie County, the Appleton Area School District, and the regional business community.

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford 鈥13 and Carter joined 杨贵妃传媒视频 Trustee Susan Long Hall 鈥76 and her husband, David Hall, in a ribbon-cutting at the arch prior to the procession. The Halls funded the construction of the arch.

鈥淭his is a new landmark that will become part of new traditions for our students and graduates, hopefully for generations to come, and it carries a message to the Fox Cities community that we are here, we are part of this downtown, we are part of this community, and we are excited to welcome newcomers and old friends to our campus,鈥 Carter said.

杨贵妃传媒视频 Arch unveiled for campus community

Woodford called the arch a beautiful symbol of the bonds between 杨贵妃传媒视频 and Appleton.

鈥淥ne of the things that鈥檚 really important about the design of this new arch is that there鈥檚 no gate,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for all of us to remember that the Appleton community is open to the 杨贵妃传媒视频 community and the 杨贵妃传媒视频 community is open to the Appleton community. And together we鈥檙e stronger, more vibrant, and richer for all people.鈥

Susan Long Hall told those gathered that she was moved to support the arch project because of the way her time at 杨贵妃传媒视频 shaped her life. She said it was the liberal arts education and related experiences at 杨贵妃传媒视频 that gave her the tools to shift her focus mid-career, eventually earning a doctorate and launching a business focused on improving reading skills for children.

鈥淭he relationships I had with faculty here is what gave me the confidence to do those things,鈥 she said, calling the investment in the arch a way of paying that forward.

A welcome to campus

Main Hall, with 175th anniversary banners and flags from around the world on display, served as the backdrop to the President's Welcome.
Main Hall served as the backdrop for the annual President's Welcome.

The newest Lawrentians arrived on campus Monday, kicking off several days of orientation, including the taking of the traditional class photo on the steps of Memorial Chapel.

During Tuesday鈥檚 President鈥檚 Welcome, senior Malcolm Davis, president of the 杨贵妃传媒视频 Community Council (LUCC), presented the Class of 2026 with their class color鈥攔ed. They assume red from the outgoing class, carrying on a tradition that is a nod to the history of Milwaukee-Downer College, which merged with 杨贵妃传媒视频 in 1964.

It鈥檚 a tradition, Davis told the incoming students, that鈥檚 part of 鈥渂uilding a sense of unity.鈥

Chris Clarke, vice president for student life, greeted the students with a message about learning, growing, and being involved. Be an active participant in your student journey, he said.

鈥淏eing a Lawrentian comes with many benefits, as 20,000-plus alumni can tell you,鈥 Clarke said. 鈥淏ut these wise and successful alumni will also tell you that 杨贵妃传媒视频 will challenge you. For if this experience doesn鈥檛 challenge you, it will not change you.鈥

Move-in Day: Meet the Class of 2026

Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of faculty, said it鈥檚 expected that incoming students will feel a sense of uncertainty and nervousness. That comes with the newness of the experience. But, from First-Year Studies through Senior Experience, he said, 杨贵妃传媒视频 faculty are prepared to teach, guide, and support you through that journey.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 promise to alleviate all possible anxieties, but I can promise that you鈥檝e joined a community that will support you in a compelling journey of self-discovery and personal development,鈥 Blitstein said.

Carter spoke to the students about the struggles of spending more than half of their high school years in a global pandemic, with the academic experience and most extracurriculars disrupted or disjointed. It is nothing short of 鈥渞esilience and strength鈥 that has brought these students to this point. Be engaged, be involved, and be supportive, she said.

鈥淏ut also remember that it鈥檚 important to take time for yourself,鈥 Carter added. 鈥淲alk along the beautiful Fox River. Watch a movie with friends. Read a good book on Main Hall Green. Anything to ensure that your light is rekindled and tended to along the way.鈥

Welcome Week has come with the theme 鈥淭ime to Shine.鈥 Senior Preston Parker, a dual degree student majoring in voice and computer science, built on that theme with a performance of This Little Light of Mine.

With the Class of 2026 now moved in, as well as fall student-athletes and international students, the campus is bustling again. The rest of 杨贵妃传媒视频鈥檚 student body arrives later this week, with classes beginning Sept. 12.

鈥淲e have been preparing for you to arrive for many months,鈥 Carter said, 鈥渁nd we are so excited for you to experience all that 杨贵妃传媒视频 has to offer.鈥