INFORMATION FOR
A cheering, pom pom-waving crowd of more than 500 faculty and staff welcomed the nearly 1,000 members of the William Paterson University Class of 2030 on Tuesday, August 25 during the institution’s annual Welcome Day for new students.
The newest class of Pioneers processed through Pioneer Soccer Park, where they were greeted by the hundreds of faculty and staff assembled there to greet them on their way to the New Student Convocation in the Sports and Recreation Center.
As part of this year’s celebration of the University’s 75th anniversary of its move to Wayne in 1951, which kicked off on Welcome Day, four alumni—Dolores Clarke '57, MA ’83; Marie De Blasi '60; Robert De Blasi '63, MA '68; and Alice-Jane Loewrigkeit '61—were also present to welcome the new students.
Watch highlights from William Paterson University’s Welcome Day celebration.
University President Richard J. Helldobler officially welcomed the Class of 2030. “It is so great to have you all with us on campus! I hope this is the beginning of an exciting, curiosity-driven, intellectually stimulating, and fun-filled journey for you as a member of our Pioneer community,” he said. “I assure you that every person here and around campus wants to see each and every one of you succeed. We want you to use your time with us here on campus to get a high-quality education that will prepare you for a successful career and a rewarding life. Equally important, we want you all to have the kind of experiences that demonstrate the value in balancing your work lives—including your coursework and any outside jobs you may have—with having some fun.”
President Helldobler told the new students how much he looked forward to greeting them again as they receive their degrees at Commencement four years from now. “But my more immediate hope is that you finish today feeling welcomed, honored, celebrated, included, and—yes—ready for the work ahead that will lead to your own special day a few years from now.”
Fred Gruel, a long-time member of the University’s Board of Trustees, also spoke to the students. “On behalf of all my colleagues on the Board, many of whom, like me, are first-generation college graduates, I want to congratulate you on becoming part of this special community!” he said. “Your success really starts with you. The same desire to learn and achieve that brought you here today will serve you well throughout your time at William Paterson. I urge you to combine with that desire an openness to meeting new people and exploring new interests.”
Other speakers welcoming the students to campus were Amy Ginsberg, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Balmurli Natrajan, professor of anthropology and chair of the Faculty Senate; Preston Nieuwenhuis, a student representative to the Board of Trustees, and Fatimah Abbassi, president of the Student Government Association.
The ceremony concluded with the University’s spirit song and a Will.Power. chant, followed by a burst of black and orange streamers that filled the venue. The newest Pioneers then gathered at the WP Spirit Rock on Speert Green for their first campus photo as the Class of 2030.
The students also attended their first Will. Power.101 classes, which introduce them to campus life, and enjoyed a barbecue lunch and activities on the Caldwell Plaza.
