The Class of 2030 Receives a Warm, Davidson College Welcome
August 21, 2026
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
Davidson College’s Class of 2030 and transfer students continued the whirlwind days of orientation, getting acclimated to campus and learning about the many opportunities awaiting them inside and outside the classroom.
On Wednesday night, they attended their first convocation, where orientation team members, following tradition, formed a boisterous, cheering, dancing, human tunnel for the newcomers and their families as they filed into the Baker Sports Complex.
Once inside, they heard from College President Doug Hicks ’90 and other senior leaders who welcomed them to the community.
Chris Gruber, vice president and dean of admission and financial aid, offered a few fun tidbits about the newest students.
Their ranks include 538 first-year and 17 transfer students.
They represent 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico and 31 countries. Some 134 are scholar-athletes and 66 are visual and performing artists and creative writers. Eighty-six are first-generation college students.
One was a background actor on an HBO show and a member of the Junior Olympic National team. Another is a bluegrass musician who’s opened for a Grammy winning artist. Two are blacksmiths and one has navigated all 46 Adirondack High Peaks.
Picnic on the Lawn, Sweet Farewell
Students spent Thursday visiting representatives from different departments and meeting with their orientation teams and leaders, who shared tips about college culture, the best places to study and favorite campus foods.
Hungry after that, they headed to Chambers lawn for a lunchtime picnic. More learning sessions followed, before Hicks hosted students and their families for late afternoon cookies and treats in a tradition known as “the Sweet Farewell.”
The afternoon ritual gives families time together before they part. It also gives them a chance to meet other students and families. Over the years, multiple stories have emerged about enduring family friendships that started at these gatherings.
New students will wrap up the night with an ice-cream social. (Parents, don’t worry, while Davidson loves its sweet treats, the college’s Dining Service chefs load their menus with fruits, vegetables and plenty of healthy food options.)
Davidson College Muscles Up to Move In the Class of 2030
From the president to coaches, athletes, staffers and upper-class students, the Davidson College community welcomed newcomers Wednesday by transporting their many boxes, bags, crates and comforters from curbsides to residence hall rooms.
The heavily laden vehicles transporting the Class of 2030 and their families crawled across campus on a sweltering August day. As they reached their respective residence halls, they encountered music, cheers and teams of helpers ready to unload, lift and carry their college must-haves.
License plates reflected their journeys, from the orange groves of Florida to the lobster-rich waters of Maine. A family from California flew in and managed to snag a car with the Golden State’s plates at the airport. Their cross-country flight seemed almost short when compared with the continent-crossing journeys of a student who spent 20 hours flying in from Shanghai, and another whose trek from Australia came in at a solid 24.
Davidson takes pride in offering newcomers a smooth, warm — and helpful — welcome from the entire campus. President Doug Hicks ’90 was an early greeter and mover, introducing himself to families as he kept things on the lighter side.
He earned laughs as he carried a student’s small and very light clear box filled with toy sushi keychains.
Another mover couldn’t resist teasing:
“Do you need help with that?”
After unpacking, assembling shelves and stands and turning dorm rooms into their college homes, students will spend the next few days in orientation activities. Classes begin Monday.
