“You all belong here. Each of you. However you come to us, whatever is important to you, wherever this path will lead you — you belong here.”
With these words, on Sept. 25 University of Washington Bothell Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg welcomed more than 500 first-year students — nearly half of the Class of 2028 — to the 19th annual Convocation ceremony marking the start of the academic year.
For some of the students, the beginning took place a few days earlier when they moved into the recently completed Residential Village, which in addition to Summit Hall now includes Forest Hall and Horizon Hall and houses nearly 600 students on campus.
“One of the 288 first-year students moving in shared their excitement at meeting new people and getting a taste of independence for the first time,” said Katie Horowitz, assistant dean for student engagement and director of residential life. “And one of the parents told me that move-in went smoothly, which allowed them to focus on supporting their daughter.
“The credit for that goes to the more than 200 staff, faculty and returning students who helped to welcome our residents and get them from their car to their room.”
Immediately after Move-In Days on Sept. 20 and 21, students enjoyed a Welcome Week of social activities including nightly networking, a welcome barbecue, ice cream and mochi donut drop-ins, a scavenger hunt, and a music and laser show.
The new undergraduates also prepared for the academic year with a Meta Major meetup and advising appointments as well as campus resource and employment fairs that were open to all students.
At Convocation, Fernanda Armas, president of the Associated Students of UW Bothell, greeted the first-time college students with advice learned from personal experience. “Make connections and don’t be afraid to rely on others,” she said. “Recognize that you don’t have to face the challenges of college life alone. Lean on your peers, mentors and campus resources.”
Armas came to UW Bothell as a first-generation student from Venezuela. She spoke of how she’s changed since stepping foot on campus, echoing Chancellor Esterberg’s earlier remarks to the students that “If we do our job well, then you are going to be a different person when you leave here than when you started. That is exactly as it should be. That is what higher education is about.”
In her closing statement, Armas encouraged the students following in her footsteps to be bold but always with respect, to speak up for what they believe in and to defend the values they hold dear.
“We are living in a time when your voice is needed more than ever, and it’s you — your courage, your passion — that will shape the future,” she said. “Don’t let fear hold you back, because the change the world needs starts with you.”
