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Rain n showers couldn’t dampen the spirit of students
and family members that arrived on Friday to begin their freshman year
at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
That included Art Schultz, a 1981 Rose-Hulman alumnus
who moved his daughter, Maggie, into the same residence hall room, 311
of Baur-Sames-Borgart Hall, that he had as a freshman –- 32 years ago.
“I hope it provides her with as many memories and good times as I had on
this campus,” stated Schultz, who never imagined that his daughter who
attend his alma mater.
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Like Father, Like Daughter: Thirty-two years after moving into
Room 311 of Baur-Sames-Bogart residence hall, Art Schultz ('81)
moved his daughter, Maggie, into the same room during move-in day
for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's 2009-10 reshman class. |
Believe it or not, Rose-Hulman wasn’t in our
long-term plan. She had
tagged along with me for class reunions and homecoming events on campus,
but never gave much thought to attending college here.
Then, she became a high school senior and wanted to study
engineering, and Rose-Hulman started to become an option,” the proud
father said. “It was totally
her decision. Maggie just
felt right at home here. I
was familiar with a lot of the things that Maggie is going through.
I’m sure that some things have changed over the course of 32
years, but the family atmosphere is still on this campus.”On the first floor of Baur-Sames-Bogart Hall, Kevin
Dickson and Donald Stopka were becoming familiar with their new
surroundings -- but not themselves.
The Grayslake, Ill., natives have known each other since
attending the same kindergarten class.
They went to different high schools, but decided to attend and
play sports at Rose-Hulman together.
Dickson is running cross country and track, while Stopka is
preparing to play baseball for the Engineers.
The incoming class has 466 students from 36 states and
eight international countries, including a record 14 undergraduate
students from China. Other
international students have come from India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Korea.
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Welcoming Long-Distance Traveler: Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology President Matt Branam greets Itaru Mitsuta, who came
5,980 miles from Sapporo, Japan to be a member of the college's
2009-10 freshman class. He is among a record 24 international
students in the incoming group. |
Itaru Mitsuta may have travelled the farthest –- 5,980
miles – from Sapporo, Japan, to campus.
His roommate, Luke Kennedy, is from Avon, Ind. –- 66 miles away.
“I wanted to be challenged academically and throughout
my college season process on the Internet I realized that Rose-Hulman is
the best,” stated Mitsuta, who was familiar with Indiana after being a
foreign exchange student in Elkhart, Ind.
“I’m looking forward to making new friends on campus.”
One of the first persons to drop by Mitsuta’s room in
Speed residence hall was Matt Branam, Rose-Hulman’s president.
Rose-Hulman officials are most proud of the fact that
the class is the most ethnically diverse in school history, with 16
percent of the class being non-Caucasian.
The group includes strong numbers among African American students
for the second straight year and new records for Asian descent students
and Latino/Hispanic students.
The 24 international students
comprise the largest number in school history.
“The geographic diversity of this year’s freshman
class showcases Rose-Hulman’s growing national and international
reputation. We have also
intensified our international recruitment efforts,” noted James Goecker,
vice president of enrollment management.
“Our strong academic reputation has created more talented
prospective students in being interested in attending Rose-Hulman.”
Rose-Hulman’s recognition has been enhanced in recent
weeks by the college’s No. 1 ranking among specialized engineering
programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 College Guide, being listed
in the 2010 Fiske Guide to Colleges, and appearing in Princeton Review’s
“Best 371 Colleges: 2010 Edition.”
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Lifelong Pals: Kevin Dickson (middle, left) had no trouble
getting to know his college roommate, Donald Stopka (middle, right).
They have been friends since attending kindergarten, but went to
different high schools in Grayslake, Ill. Now, they're back together
in Baur-Sames-Bogart residence hall at Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology -- much to the delight of both student's families. |
Rose-Hulman received a record 3,554 applications for
the freshman class.
Application records were set for female students, Asian descent
students, African American students, Latino/Hispanic students and
international students.
The freshman class once again boasts strong academic
credentials. The students
had a 3.9 high school grade point average, ranked in the top eight
percent of their graduating classes (with 74 ranking in the top three
positions), had a 1300 median SAT score (680 math/620 critical reading),
had median ACT 32 math/29 English scores and 25 students posted perfect scores on the mathematics portions of the SAT or
ACT.
“As strong as this group may be academically, it is
also filled with students that have shown a commitment to community
service (150 students), and have showcased their skills in instrumental
music (154 students), student government, dramatic arts, vocal music,
newspaper and yearbook, and varsity athletics,” Goecker stated.
“We expect these students to make significant contributions to
Rose-Hulman and the Terre Haute community as well during their
college careers.”
Forty-three percent of the
2009-10 freshman class has come from Indiana, continuing the trend of a
greater number of students coming from out of state.
A record 78 freshmen are coming from Illinois, with other top states being from Ohio (40), Texas (11), Missouri (10), Kentucky
(9) and Michigan
(8).
Rose-Hulman also welcomed 17 transfer students for the
fall academic quarter, which begins on Thursday.
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