Loyola University Maryland welcomes the Class of 2025
Loyola University Maryland welcomed the Class of 2025, a class of incoming students with the highest average high school GPA in university history, at the University’s New Student Convocation on Friday, Sept. 3.
The 967 students in the class bring to Loyola an average high school GPA of 3.65. Many of the students—30%—are from Maryland, followed by New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Delaware, and Florida as the states that are best-represented in the class. The longest journey a first-year student is making to the Evergreen campus this year is more than 10,000 miles—from Australia.
In the Class of 2025, 18% of the students are the first in their family to attend college, and 34% self-identify as students of color—tying with the Class of 2024 as the most diverse in the University’s history.
Loyola’s newest students have read The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose by Chris Wilson and Brett Witter as the Class of 2025 Common Text. The book addresses the complexities of racism, mass incarceration, and systemic inequality and upholds the inherent dignity of each person, the process of redemption, and the practice of discernment. Loyola’s faculty will integrate the Common Text into class discussions and programming throughout the students’ first year.
Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and the 2020 Distinguished Teacher of the Year, will speak at today’s New Student Convocation, along with Amanda M. Thomas, Ph.D., interim president of Loyola.
“We’re seeing conflict, violence, hunger, climate disasters, and suffering around the globe—including in Afghanistan, Haiti, Nashville, the Pacific Northwest, and the communities that are dealing with the impact of Hurricane Ida,” Thomas told the students at the New Student Convocation.
“But this is also a time of tremendous opportunity and so much hope. Here you are at Loyola, a great Jesuit University that marries a liberal arts education with a variety of professional fields. You have the chance to find your place and prepare to solve the world’s problems. Because the truth is that the world needs you. Each one of you. None of us can solve it all but each of you can do your own important part. And your college education that readies you to help address these issues in our world begins today.”
New students are making connections and getting acclimated to college life at numerous events during Fall Welcome Weekend scheduled through Monday, Sept. 6.