AC Class of 2026 welcomed in matriculation ceremony
Posted Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Author: Mickey Alvarado
More than 600 new students were welcomed by Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking and his staff during a matriculation ceremony in Dawson Auditorium on Sunday, August 14.
“For those of us on this stage, today is one of the most exciting days of the year,” Docking said. “We love to see the wonder and anticipation in the eyes of our new students as all of you anxiously await all of the amazing experiences that will define the years ahead. You stand today, students, on the threshold of an absolutely magical time in your life.”
With 610 new students arriving on campus this week, Adrian College has surpassed the 600 mark for the last three years and has had an incoming class of more than 500 freshmen each year for the past 14 years. The College’s overall enrollment is approximately 1,900 students going into the 2022-2023 academic school year.
Frank Hribar, Adrian College Vice President of Enrollment and Student Affairs, suggested the students stay focused and take advantage of all the academic opportunities Adrian College offers.
“I encourage each of you to make academic achievement your highest priority,” he said. “Adrian is a college of over 90 academic programs and 44 intercollegiate sports, and yet, indeed, has one mission, your future success. This day and this ceremony mark a turning point in your life. You are an Adrian College student.”
The matriculation ceremony officially marks the entrance of the class of 2026 into Adrian College. This year’s class includes students from 29 states, including Ohio (62 students), Florida (16), Indiana (15), California (8), and Texas (7).
The largest number of students hail from Michigan (400), representing 65.5 % of the incoming Class of 2026. Forty-nine students are from Lenawee County.
There are also 37 international students from 10 countries (Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Norway, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe).
Thirty-one of the new Bulldogs are Legacy students with family members who are Adrian College alumni.
Docking explained to the new students that the next four years will be a time of significant growth, introspection, self-awareness and challenge, with opportunity.
“This is a time that you will always look back on as very special years, never before experienced before you arrived today, and never replicated after you graduate,” he said. “You will make new friends here that you will cherish for the rest of your life, and meet professors who will impact you so profoundly, that you will come back to Homecoming year after year just to say thank you one more time.”
Docking was interrupted by applause when he was talking about how the new students have become part of the Adrian family.
“Just as a big group of football players ran out to your car today to help you lug all of your worldly possessions up to your spacious dorm room, all of us are also willing and anxious to help you make this a very successful transition. You have many new friends and supporters in the great land of Adrian.”
During Welcome Week (Aug. 14-19), students check in and meet faculty advisors and student leaders. All of the freshmen will receive a thought provoking introduction into the liberal arts. Along with things such as mandatory placement testing, a course scheduling session and various advising sessions on everything from financial aid to time management, the new students will participate in events such as a Community Plunge, where they volunteer at a variety of service locations in Adrian. At the end of the week, the large freshmen class will have a group photo taken to commemorate their new beginning at Adrian College before closing out the week with a trip to Cedar Point.
Adrian College’s new Dean of Student Life, Thomas Doney, introduced himself and had the new class stand up and recite the College’s student code of conduct before they would be introduced to the Adrian community through voluntary service this week.
“Please repeat after me the first four principles, publicly acknowledging your commitment to these principles — We take responsibility for our own learning and personal development — We challenge each other to develop intellectually and ethically — We practice personal and academic integrity — We consider and seek to understand different ideas and viewpoints.”
Each of the new students will sign a Welcome Class of 2026 banner to solidify their commitment to Adrian College’s community standards.
To view the matriculation ceremony, go to www.youtube.com/c/AdrianBulldogs/videos.
