Class of 2026, Welcome Home

A new crop of talented Whitties has arrived on campus to make Whitman College their home.

On Move-In Day, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, the campus was abuzz with excitement for the year ahead. This high and happy energy continued throughout the weekend as returning students made their way back to campus in anticipation of the start of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Student embracing her family on move-in day.

A Momentous Day

For Move-In Day, families traveled from near and far to see their students off—and into their new college life.

“Welcome Home” was a sentiment felt and shared throughout campus.

Parents and siblings encouraged their students to “be safe, go to class and have fun,” as well as “take advantage of all the opportunities you have here.”

At a special welcome event for students and families, Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) President Gabby Rose ’23 offered the incoming class their first piece of advice from a current student: “Have courage, be ferocious and choose joy.”

Rose compared college to facing challenging mountains. “Whitman will give you the skills needed to climb that mountain,” Rose said.

Whitman’s faculty and staff are well-known for walking the journey alongside students, new and returning. Many of them stepped away from their offices to give arriving students a warm Whittie welcome. The most notable was Whitman’s 15th President, Sarah Bolton, who spent much of Move-In Day with students and families.

President Bolton meets students on move-in day.

“I’d like to offer just one piece of advice as your start your time in college: CONNECT!” said Bolton in her welcoming remarks.

“I also want to say just one word to the parents and families: We know how hard you have worked in order to get to this moment as well! Thank you for entrusting these amazing young people to us, and for giving us the tremendous honor of spending the next four years with them.”