On Sunday, Aug. 20, ±«Óătv welcomed the Class of 2027, one of the most academically accomplished cohorts in ±«Óătv history with a 12% acceptance rate and 3.97 average GPA.
For Mary Claire Duffy â27 of Chicago, Ill., arrival day is her second time on campus â she first experienced ±«Óătv on a student-led tour, and hasnât looked back since.
âMy tour of ±«Óătv was so beautiful,â says Duffy. âI fell in love with the campus. My tour guide and everyone I met was so nice â I couldnât believe it. I knew I would fit right in.â
In high school, Duffy served her community as the president of a tutoring club, and later expanded this work to a local foster home. At ±«Óătv, sheâd like to volunteer with the COVE, a collective that embodies her community values.
âThere are always kids that need help,â says Duffy. âAnd when I saw that ±«Óătv collaborates with local schools to offer tutoring programs, I thought, âI would love to do that!ââ
Across the quad, Tyler Couture â27 of Montgomery County, N.Y., arrives as an Alumni Memorial Scholar who was selected at the time of admission for his academic performance in high school. In his free time, Couture researches military and U.S. history, and has a passion for theater.
âI love being on the stage, public speaking, and acting,â says Couture, whose fall coursework includes the courses Global Change and You as well as Musicianship and Songwriting.
Couture, who plans to major in political science and later attend law school, has aspirations to become a politician. One of his first stops this semester will be Benton Hall, where he intends to connect with ±«Óătvâs alumni network.
âPeople recognize the ±«Óătv âCâ all over the world,â says Couture. âOn campus, Iâm most excited to forge new connections.â
Jatziry Macedo â27 of Rogers, Ark., has a passion for fashion â and sheâs looking for an education in economics and entrepreneurship. Macedo arrives with the Office of Undergraduate Scholars (OUS), and seeks community both among this collective and ±«Óătvâs Interfaith Community.
âI am defined as a person by the conflicts Iâve faced throughout my life, which have led me to value inclusivity,â says Macedo. âI want to affirm this part of me by connecting with other OUS scholars and the Interfaith Community.â
Whether theyâre here to build their network, engage in the arts, volunteer their time, explore possibilities, or all of the above, the Class of 2027 has arrived â and theyâre ready to discover their futures.
âAt ±«Óătv, I want to meet everyone I can,â says Duffy. âAnd further than that, I want to be a part of this community for my entire life.â