Westminster College Welcomes Class of 2013 with Opening Convocation Aug. 28

Westminster College will welcome the class of 2013 with the traditional Opening Convocation Friday, Aug. 28, at 1:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.

A record 473 new students will be greeted at 8 a.m. by nearly 100 Fresh Start upperclassmen, wearing tie-dye shirts. The Fresh Start staff and members of the football team will help the new freshmen and their parents unload belongings into the residence halls.

After unpacking is completed and lunch is served, the class of 2013 and their parents are invited to attend the Opening Convocation ceremony. They will receive greetings from President Dr. Richard H. Dorman and Travis M. Gulling, student government president and senior public relations major from Canton, Ohio. The Rev. James R. Mohr II, College chaplain, will give an invocation and a benediction. Dr. David G. Swerdlow, professor of English, will present the featured address, "Discovering Courage." The Westminster Brass Ensemble will provide music under the direction of Dr. R. Tad Greig, associate professor of music, while College organist Kathryn D. Miller will provide processional and recessional music. The Alma Mater will be led by Claudia J. Brown, senior sacred music major from Pittsburgh.

After a special president's reception, the parents of the first-year students will say their good-byes. When the parents depart, the new students will be divided among the Fresh Start volunteers, who will serve as the group leaders for the next week.

Contact Camille Hawthorne, associate dean of student affairs, at (724) 946-7112 or e-mail hawthorc@westminster.edu for more information about Westminster's Fresh Start Program.

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