Small Town News

McKendree University welcomes new freshman class

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McKendree University is growing in record numbers. This week the historic Lebanon campus welcomed 492 first-year and transfer students, who comprise its third largest freshman class and the largest group of transfers in the university's 181-year history.

Graduate student enrollment has grown from zero to over 1,000 in just five years, with students pursuing mas ter's degrees in education, business administration, nursing and professional counseling.

"We're excited about the growth at McKendree and believe it reflects the confidence that students and families have in our high quality education," said Dr. James Dennis, university president.

Total undergraduate enrollment for full-time students at the Lebanon campus is 1,882, filling residence halls and apartments to maximum capacity.

Geographically, the majority of McKendree freshmen - 87 percent - come from throughout Illinois but 13 other states are also represented from coast to coast. International first-year students have arrived from Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Peru and Scotland.

McKendree continues to attract academic achievers. Forty-three percent ranked in the upper 25 percent of their high school class, with 15 percent of them in the top 10 percent. On average, their grade point is 3.4 and ACT score is 23, higher than the national average composite score of 21.1.

Fall semester classes began on August 24. New students arrived early to participate in a convocation ceremony on August 21, highlighted by the traditional signing of the matricula. As part of orientation, they met to discuss their summer reading assignment, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. During their first weekend on campus, new students learned the value that McKendree places on community service as part of the educational experience. They got acquainted as they helped out at local nursing homes, churches, parks and animal shelters during "Into the Streets" outreach projects sponsored by the campus Center for Public Service.



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© 2009 The Trenton Sun Trenton, Illinois. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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