Saint Mary’s Welcomes Active, Socially Conscious, and Diverse Class of 2019

Saint Mary's students greet incoming first-year and transfer students at the main entrance of the College every year on Move In Day.
Saint Mary's students greet incoming first-year
and transfer students at the main entrance of
the College every year on Move In Day.August 19, 2015 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— The Class of 2019 at Saint Mary’s College will arrive on campus on Thursday morning to cheers of “You’re home!”

It’s a tradition for current Belles to be at the main entrance, waving welcome signs and cheering when vans, cars, and pickup trucks—packed to the gills—turn on to The Avenue. Once the new students and their families pull up to Regina Hall or McCandless Hall, the hospitality continues as the College Relations and Admission teams unload their vehicles on the sidewalk.

Saint Mary’s College is excited to welcome the Class of 2019, which boasts approximately 420 women. It’s one of the most diverse classes in Saint Mary’s history, with 20 percent of the class from underrepresented populations. There are first years from Oregon to Florida, from New Hampshire to California, and from as far away as Rwanda, Bolivia, China, and Costa Rica. Fifty-three of these women have moms and/or sisters who attended Saint Mary’s. Ninety-three of the students were captains of their athletic teams and 107 were members of the National Honor Society.

But what makes this class unique and special are not the statistics. These women have demonstrated that they belong at Saint Mary’s because they share our core value of commitment to social justice and they understand what it means to take an active role in their communities.

Here are some of the students’ accomplishments:

  • Went on mission trips to southern Philippines, El Salvador, Macedonia, Jamaica, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, St. Lucia, Nicaragua and Fiji;
  • Performed at Carnegie Hall;
  • Interned with a Massachusetts State Representative and with a US Senate campaign;
  • Served as Co-Captain of the FIRST Robotics Competition Team and is now a Robotics Instructor for children;
  • Published as part of a team of researchers who studied the effects of e-cigarettes on cultured cells.

“There is no one definition of a Saint Mary’s woman,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Mona Bowe. “Some of these students moving in are athletes and some are musicians. Some are here to become teachers and others hope to start their own businesses. But having read their applications, I can tell you that they share a common passion for community service and a love of learning.”

About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. In the fall of 2015 Saint Mary’s College will offer two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2015 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews. 

Contact for the news media: Adrienne Latson, staff writer, at alatson@saintmarys.edu.

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