Albion's Class of 2022 and newest transfer students gathered in Goodrich Chapel for the August 24 Matriculation Ceremony.

The Class of 2022 gathered in the Dow Center's Lomas Fieldhouse for a group photo.

Faculty welcomed students into the Albion College community as they exited Goodrich.

Students stated their names on stage and received a Matriculation coin from President Ditzler to commemorate the occasion.

First-year student Madeline Ruth Crook read the Student Pledge.

At Matriculation, new students were introduced to the College hymn, "Albion, Dear Albion."

Students began to get to know one another in the classroom through the initial First-Year Seminar meeting.

One of those special moments: making a college residence hall room your very own.

Of course, once in the room there is some sorting out to do.

Yes, moving into a residence hall room for the first time is fun!

Earlier in the day, students began to settle into their new home.

By Jake Weber

A number of appealing features continue to attract students from across the country to Albion College, as demonstrated by the Class of 2022. Of the 431 first-year students and 35 transfer students, more than 30 percent come from states other than Michigan.

California, Texas and Florida combine to provide nearly 10 percent of the new students, while a close relationship with Chicago’s Noble Network of Charter Schools adds 60 students to the class.

Director of Admission Mandy Dubiel notes that these numbers are the result of a long-range admission plan enacted four years ago. In addition, the all-class GPA has risen this year to 3.5.

“We’ve been working hard and are pleased with continued improvement in these areas,” Dubiel says. “It’s challenging to get students who’ve never even been to Michigan to look at a small college here. But we have the strong academic programs and a supportive environment that good students are looking for.”

Albion’s total enrollment for fall 2018 will likely be between 1,550 and 1,600 students, coming from 32 U.S. states and the countries of Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Spain, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.