WS Chronicle

Photo by Tevin Stinson

Women’s institution welcomes largest group of incoming students in 245-year history

BY TEVIN STINSON

THE CHRONICLE

At a place in time when women’s colleges are seeing a decline in enrollment, Salem College, the oldest operating educational institution for girls and women in the United States, welcomed the largest class of freshmen in the school’s history last weekend.

To help usher in a new era in the institution’s rich 245-year history, alumnae and current students volunteered to help the freshmen class of 200 students move in on Saturday, Aug. 20. While usually reserved for sleeping in, dozens of volunteers spent their Saturday morning hauling boxes of clothes, refrigerators and pieces of furniture into dorm rooms.

Other volunteers, such as 2014 graduate Katie Hall, were on hand to network with students and give them valuable information on college life at Salem. Hall, who is a board member for Salem College Alumnae Association, said it is important that alumnae engage with incoming students early because they have a responsibility to show them the way.

“We are trying to start the relationship early because that’s where the full college experience will come from,” Hall said.

Hall mentioned that when she enrolled in 2010, she was part of the biggest class in school history. She said the class of 2020 is a testament to all the hard work and dedication by Salem faculty and staff.

“It’s cool that Dean Katherine Knapp Watts has leveraged the community in recruitment as we continue to grow,” she said. “We are thriving, and it’s great to be a part of that.”

Incoming freshman Taylor Smith, who plans to major in exercise science said, she is excited to see what life will be like at Salem. A native of Virginia, Smith said she felt welcomed when she was met by a host of upperclassman and alumni when she arrived in Winston-Salem.

“I don’t really know a lot of people in N.C. but, the campus really has the homey kind of feel,” she said.

When asked what she hopes to get out of her experience at Salem, Smith said, “I want to build my leadership skills and confidence as a person. I also hope to get a lot of internships that will prepare me for my future.”

Following move-in day, incoming students participated in a number of sessions, workshops, and other activities designed to build relationships, and prepare students for the long, and at times stressful journey that is college.

The first day for students at Salem College was Wednesday, Aug. 24.