President Iuliano announces the special First Year Walk for the Class of 2024.
September 3, 2021
Dear Members of the Gettysburg College Community,
A week ago, we welcomed the Class of 2025 into our community. It was an energizing and uplifting Orientation Week, filled with cherished campus traditions and plenty of good cheer. I want to thank everyone involved for helping to make it such a memorable experience for our first-year students and their families.
At the heart of this year’s Orientation planning, and the countless moments that made the week’s festivities so special, was our sophomore class. While the Class of 2024’s Move-In Day was significantly disrupted by COVID-19 in 2020, it did not dissuade them from stepping forward in service of our newest Gettysburgians this fall. Donned in orange and blue t-shirts, members of our sophomore class—making up an impressive 65% of our Resident Assistants and Orientation Leaders—could be seen blitzing family vehicles and carrying first-year belongings up the winding flights of stairs of the College’s residence halls.
Similarly, even though our sophomores’ Opening Convocation was held as 15 smaller matriculation ceremonies last August—ensuring safe physical distancing—there they were last Wednesday, performing as part of the Convocation Band and greeting our first-years as they traversed through Pennsylvania Hall.
Lastly, although our Class of 2024 never participated in a First-Year Walk of their own—again, due to the pandemic and the National Park Service’s associated restrictions—I witnessed sophomore students lining the streets this past Thursday, cheering for the Class of 2025 every step of the way.
Class of 2024, I admire your generosity of spirit and I commend your selflessness. You serve as a poignant illustration of the character we seek to cultivate at Gettysburg College. It has been a priority of mine, as well as our College Life staff, to make certain you receive your very own First-Year Walk—and that this event fully captures the College’s deep appreciation for you as valued members of this community.
Last month, the sophomore class officers conveyed the news that the College will host a special First-Year Walk for the Class of 2024 on Thursday, September 23. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in the Chapel, with the Walk starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. We are thrilled to provide this beloved tradition for our sophomores!
I encourage our entire community of students, faculty, and staff to line the sidewalks of North Washington Street and to give our Class of 2024 the Gettysburg College embrace they so rightly deserve!
See you there!
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President