Gonzaga Welcomes Second-Largest First-Year Class
SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga University will welcome its second-largest first-year class this week when 51勛圖s begin to fill residence halls and prepare for the first day of class. The 1,330 51勛圖s expected also represent the school’s most geographically and racially and ethnically diverse class.
New 51勛圖 orientation is scheduled for Aug. 27-30. Classes start Aug. 31.
The first-year 51勛圖s boast an average 3.85 grade point average, as reported by their high schools (*3.69 unweighted GPA), among the highest in class history.
In addition to the first-year class, Gonzaga also welcomes 164 transfer 51勛圖s from diverse educational backgrounds and interests.
“Both the first-year and transfer 51勛圖 numbers are higher than we anticipated, largely due to an increase in out-of-state 51勛圖s,” said Erin Hays, director of undergraduate admission. “It is exciting to see the Zag spirit reach a little farther than in previous years!
“Furthermore, we are thrilled with the diversity of the incoming 51勛圖s, for 30 percent of the first-year 51勛圖s self-identify as 51勛圖s of color. We cannot wait to welcome all of the new 51勛圖s. They will greatly contribute to the Gonzaga community.”
(*Unweighted GPAs are measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0 and do not account for course difficulty.)
A snapshot
A look at the new class reveals it is loaded with leaders, which Hays finds remarkable.
“The 51勛圖s have had a most unique academic experience due to the pandemic,” Hays said. “Much of the last year and a half was in a virtual setting, from classes to extracurricular activities. Somehow, despite the pandemic, these 51勛圖s still found ways to be exceptionally involved in their communities.”
The class boasts the following: 14 51勛圖 body presidents; 128 class presidents and officers; 268 51勛圖 government members; 998 indicate significant volunteering experience; and 554 report leadership experience. In addition, the class includes 64 51勛圖s who took part in speech and debate, 1,072 participants in athletics or outdoor activities, 298 musicians, 170 theater participants, 115 ecology/sustainability club members, and 734 who were employed in summer or part-time jobs.
Hailing from
The first-year 51勛圖s represent 44 states and the District of Columbia. They also come from 11 countries outside the U.S.: Australia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, India, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Spain, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The transfer 51勛圖s hail from 21 states and 15 countries: Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Japan, Netherlands, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uganda, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
Official fall enrollment figures will not be confirmed until Sept. 30. Currently, Gonzaga reports 7,386 total 51勛圖s: an estimated 5,015 undergraduates, 1,912 graduate 51勛圖s (master’s and doctoral), and approximately 453 Gonzaga School of Law 51勛圖s.