Move-In Day Complete. Welcome, Class of 2020.

On Friday, Sept. 2—a clear, temperate, sunny day—Gustavus Adolphus College welcomed the Class of 2020.

The new first-years boast an average high school grade point average of 3.61 and an average ACT score of 27. Twenty percent graduated high school with a 4.0 or higher. There are fourth-generation Gusties among them, and there are those who are the first in their families to attend college.

The new students hail from 35 states and 13 countries. For the next four years, all will call Gustavus home.

By 8 a.m., students and families in vehicles loaded with supplies began pulling up to Pittman, Sohre, and Norelius (Co-Ed) Halls. Gustie Greeters welcomed them to campus with the Gustie rouser, Gustie cheers, and a variety of freestyle dance moves. Gustie football players unloaded and carried items to students’ rooms where they were unpacked, arranged, and synched to campus wifi.

Energy and excitement was high. “I’m looking forward to learning more and meeting new people,” said Yasmine Dismuke ’20 from St. Paul. Chao Yu ’20, from Woodbury, held a card his dad gave him which reads, everything you want is on the other side of fear. “It’s a small thing but it’s really powerful and meaningful,” he said. It was also a defining sentiment for the day.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., a buffet lunch was held in the Lund Center. After, Gustie families continued to help new students arrange their rooms. They stopped by the Gustavus sign for commemorative move-in day photos with their families (available at flickr.com/photos/gustavusadolphuscollege). Then it was on to Old Main to mingle over ice cream and grab a selfie with President Rebecca Bergman.

Legacy families were eager to connect and reconnect—the Gustavus classes of the 1980s were particularly loud and proud with their Gustie 2020 students.

At Convocation, students and parents heard from President Rebecca Bergman, as well as Rich Aune ’81, associate vice president and dean of admission; Dr. JoNes VanHecke, vice president for student life and dean of students; Dr. Brenda Kelly, interim provost and dean of the faculty; and alum Karla Leitzman ’13, philanthropy associate for Girl Scouts River Valleys.

Speakers emphasized—to both students and parents—the importance of embracing the challenge of a Gustavus liberal arts education and remaining open to the new experiences and people it will bring. Dr. Kelly evoked Proverbs 4:13: “Keep hold of instruction; do not let it go. Guard it, for it is your life.”  Said Aune as he looked around the room, “These are the people who will help you run lines before opening night, who will cheer for you when you score your first goal, who will challenge you, who will look you dead in the eye and say you can do better.” Leitzman too praised the promise of the relationships between Gustavus students, professors, and staff that will shape each incoming Gustie. “I hope you all learn the most important part of Gustavus, and that is community,” she said. “I can’t wait to see how this place grows and flourishes because you are here.

“Welcome home.”