Creighton University has done a considerable amount of welcoming these past few weeks.
As Creighton begins to welcome many alumni back to campus for the Homecoming Week festivities, it also reflects on the successful welcoming of its new students.
Celebrating classes of years past while continuing to initiate a whole new generation into the Bluejay community offers the unique opportunity to reflect on the students, past and present, who are the lifeblood of the University.
Comprised of 1068 students, the class of 2019 is the largest in school history.
That being said, University Provost Edward “Ed” R. O’Connor, Ph.D., FACHE, feels that the class of 2019 in no way sacrifices quality for size.
“The academic rigor is consistent with previous classes that were smaller. Not every school is going to be able to say that,” stated O’Connor. “This growth is very deliberate, thoughtful growth.”
In fact, a third of the new students completed their high school careers with a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Additionally, 30 percent ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school classes and 14 percent were among the top ten students in their respective classes as well.
Apart from their high academic caliber, the class of 2019 is also impressive from adiversity standpoint.
While many students do hail from Nebraska and Iowa, nearly half of the class comes from a hometown over 400 miles away from Creighton.
Minnesotans, Californians and Hawaiians especially contribute to this year’s student population. Another 22 of the new students have even crossed national boundaries to come here, making the move from countries such as Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Norway and Vietnam. These students defy the idea that Creighton has an overwhelmingly local population.
O’Connor highlights other misguided perceptions of the school that the new students are helping to invalidate. With 18 percent first generation students, just 22 percent legacy students, 31 percent students of color and a 39 percent non-Catholic population, the class of 2019 demonstrates that one does not have to fit any sort of ethnic, religious or socioeconomic mold to fit into the Creighton community.
Looking ahead, O’Connor and the entire admissions team at Creighton have high hopes for the integration and overall success of these new students. Their impressive academic backgrounds and diversity set them up to be a positive asset to this community.
O’Connor sees in them “a real commitment to understand and learn about themselves and what they can do to help the world.”
Vice Provost for Admissions, Dr. Mary Chase, Ed. D., supplemented these comments by highlighting the achievements and array of personal backgrounds that make the class of 2019, “one of the most diverse and talented classes we have enrolled at Creighton.”
“This group is sure to come together and set the world on fire!” Chase said.
During this time of celebration of classes come and gone, as well as celebration of a new year and new faces, one must recognize the countless people who continue to help bring the best and brightest to Creighton.
Dr. O’Connor notes that “everyone connected with Creighton contributes in some way,” and extends a special thank you not only to those in Admissions for their work in recruiting the class of 2019, but to the strong network of current students and alumni working together to continue Creighton’s tradition of excellence.