Welcome to SLU, New Billikens
Saint Louis University’s newest students got to know their new homes away from home during the first week of Fall Welcome, which officially kicks off the academic year at SLU.
Click above to view a slideshow of Fall Welcome 2016.
Freshmen began moving into their residence halls Aug. 17.
More than 3,600 students will live on campus this year, and some of those Billikens
will call Spring Hall home. The new $44 million residence hall was completed this
summer.
Fall Welcome is a two-week program, featuring numerous special events for first-year
students. Highlights of the first week included a square dance on the roof a University
parking garage, the annual Legacy Luncheon for new students with alumni parents, grandparents
and siblings, and a spirit competition during a men’s soccer match against Jefferson
College.
Another major highlight of the week was the New Student Convocation and Family Welcome, which drew more than 3,200 people to Chaifetz Arena Aug. 18. During the ceremony, which welcomes all new students to SLU, the University formally presented this year’s freshman class. The incoming class boasts some impressive credentials, including:
- The mean grade point average of the class is more than 3.9.
- The average ACT/SAT entrance scores are the highest of all time and place the class among the top 10 percent of all students tested in the nation.
- The class includes 21 Presidential Scholars and 52 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars.
- There are 129 honors students in this year’s freshman class.
- There are 43 U.S. states and nearly 30 foreign countries represented in the new class.
- Nearly 30 percent of this year’s freshmen are first-generation college students.
Fall Welcome at SLU continues next week with a number of events, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition at Jesuit colleges since the Society of Jesus began founding schools in the 16th century. All are welcome to celebrate the Mass at SLU, which begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, in St. Francis Xavier College Church.