St. Olaf welcomes the Class of 2030
First-year students move their belongings in to campus. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
New students check in during move-in day. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
New students and their families put the finishing touches on residence hall rooms throughout move-in day. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
President Susan Rundell Singer talks with new students. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
Students and their families attend a special St. Olaf Welcome event. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
President Susan Rundell Singer welcomes members of the Class of 2030 and their families. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
After the St. Olaf Welcome ceremony, students say goodbye to their parents. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
First-year students get a welcome high-five from Oles leading orientation activities. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
Shortly after moving in, Oles gather across campus for New Student Orientation activities. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
Shortly after moving in, Oles gather for New Student Orientation activities. Photo by Evan Pak ’19 
Shortly after moving in, Oles gather for New Student Orientation activities. Photo by Evan Pak ’19
On a warm and sunny late-summer weekend, St. Olaf College welcomed the newest Oles to campus.
The 844 first-year students and 29 transfer students who moved into their residence halls on Labor Day Weekend hail from 529 high schools and 29 colleges across 44 states and 45 countries. The majority come from outside of Minnesota.
More than one in five members of the Class of 2030 are the first of their family to attend college, and 26 percent are domestic students of color — the largest percentage for an incoming class in the college’s history.
At the welcome ceremony, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Chris George ’94 told students and their families that they weren’t just joining a community for the next four years, but for the rest of their lives. And, he added, every single one of them belongs.
“You are smart, talented, caring, engaged, passionate, and adventurous. You are confident and creative individuals who want to shape the world. You are Oles!” he said. “I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.”
In their first weekend on campus, the newest Oles also participated in a wide variety of orientation activities, got to know new friends and faculty members, met St. Olaf President Susan Rundell Singer while signing their name in the college book, and attended a special St. Olaf Welcome. They will also have the opportunity to attend the First Lecture for the Class of 2030 and joined the campus community for Opening Convocation.
We are thrilled to have these newest Oles on the Hill. Welcome, Class of 2030!