Ceremony, tradition mark first-year students’ arrival on campus

Their route illuminated by 716 luminaries, members of the class of 2015 – each holding a candle – took a symbolic walk Aug. 24 through Ward Memorial Arch to be welcomed into the McDaniel community. The ceremonial welcome reflected the Latin words on the 144-year-old college’s official seal, “E tenebris in lucem voco” or “I call you out of darkness into light.”

Diversity, community service, scholarship and leadership are the hallmarks of the 429 first-year students who, in keeping with a decades-old tradition, each rang the Old Main bell to signal that they are officially members of the learning community.

Here are Five Freshmen Facts that help paint a picture of the class:

• Three-fourths performed community service beyond their high school’s requirement and half held leadership roles during their high school years.
• 40 percent are the first in their families to attend college and more than a fourth are students of color.
• 38 percent come from 24 states outside Maryland, from Washington state to California to Florida and Maine.
• One-third played varsity athletics, and one fourth were team captains.
• They hail from six countries: Bahamas, China, Ecuador, Germany, Korea and Vietnam.

Here’s a look at their first day on the Hill: