Kean Welcomes the Class of 2028 with Joyful Freshman Convocation
Kean University welcomed the Class of 2028 at the University's first-ever Freshman Convocation, a festive event held on the Union campus.
The freshmen wore Kean t-shirts, waved and took selfie videos as they processed along Cougar Walk from the campus clock tower to the ceremony at Harwood Arena. The Class of 2028, which has about 2,000 students, comes with diverse backgrounds, hometowns and interests, but members all shared the same experience at the event. "I love it," said Kelsey Thelemaque of Elizabeth, a psychology major. "We're all new here."
Faculty, staff and upperclassmen shared the spirit, lining Cougar Walk to applaud, cheer and wave pom-poms ushering in the University's newest crop of freshmen. "It feels great to see them," said Associate Vice President and University Registrar Scott Snowden, Ed.D.
President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., gave a personal welcome to the new students, telling them "you're home now; you're part of my family." He also encouraged the students to pause for a moment and visualize their future success at Kean. "You have the opportunity to write your own story," the president said. "Think about what you are going to do to make your life better. This is your time. This is your destiny. This is your climb."
The Convocation gave many in the Kean community the chance to reflect back on their own first days of college. Senior Celina Luna of North Bergen, a New Student Orientation worker and one of those enthusiastically applauding the first-year students, put herself in their shoes. "They probably had mixed emotions, nervous but excited," the speech-language-hearing sciences major said. "They probably feel great now. Kean gives that sense of belonging right away."
As part of their official welcome, Class of 2028 members also got to meet one of the University's leading dignitaries: Keanu the Cougar.
Kean's newest students also received advice from speakers – Vice President for Student Affairs Kerrin Lyles and Kean Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Birdsell, Ph.D. "Some of you are sitting there thinking you don't know where to begin," Lyles said. "I'll give you the secret sauce. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Get involved."
For his part, Birdsell advised the freshmen to be engaged, and don't be afraid to fail – or succeed. He also told the new students that each of them is a welcome and valuable part of the Kean Cougar community. "Not only do you belong here, not only do we want you, we believe you complete us," he said. "We need your thoughts; we need your energy; we need the brilliance you bring to this University."
The newest Kean Cougars now embark on what is sure to be a life-changing year for them. New friends, new experiences, new academic discoveries and more await at Kean. "I feel nervous. But at the same time, I feel welcome," said freshman biology major Laura Florez, who moved from Colombia to the City of Elizabeth seven years ago. She is now the first in her family to go to college. "Seeing the upperclass students makes me feel good about myself. I think I could be like that. I'm ready to start a new chapter."