Johns Hopkins University's Class of 2029 bears a unique distinction: The newly arrived cohort of 1,300 undergraduate and transfer students is also the university's 150th class.
During his remarks at the university's annual Convocation ceremony Sunday night, JHU President Ron Daniels told the students it's up to them to forge their identity as a community of scholars and friends in tandem with that auspicious label.
Daniels acknowledged that the incoming students are joining Hopkins during a crucial point in history.
"There is no doubt that you are entering this community at a time of tremendous change and upheaval. A time when we at Hopkins must renew our commitment to these skills that our world so sorely needs," Daniels said on the eve of the first day of the fall semester. "Luckily, looking out tonight at the totality of this class, I see something you may not yet: a source of boundless possibility. And so, as you determine—together—who this class will become in the arc of Johns Hopkins' rich and storied history, my challenge to you is this: Be the class that embraces that sense of limitless possibility."
Convocation began with a twilight procession of the new students to the O'Connor Recreation Center for the ceremony, which featured performances by campus a cappella groups, remarks from university leaders in their academic regalia, and a special gift for the students: White bucket hats bearing the university's blue-and-white split block H and the class year. The hats harken back to beanies worn by first year students in the early decades of the 20th century.
"I thought you might be charmed by [the beanie's] throwback style, but colleagues persuaded me otherwise," Daniels joked as he showed an archival photo of the original hats. "They assured me that the bucket hat is the new beanie. But you and I know that—no matter how on trend—a hat does not make a class. So, Class of 2029, now it is your turn to define who you will be. But above all, you will explore new knowledge, new ideas, and new perspectives that will challenge and even change the way you understand the world and your place in it."
Read the president's full Convocation remarks online.
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image caption: President Ron Daniels
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image caption: Rachelle Hernandez, vice provost for student affairs
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
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