Students talk while sitting on a bench on the quad

A Centennial Welcome for New Students at Duke

A look at a lively week, from the class of 2028’s move in, to a global convocation at DKU

As summer fades and campus comes back to life, we welcome the newest Blue Devils and prepare for another exciting academic year.

Duke’s 100th Class Arrives

On a Saturday in mid-August, roughly 1,730 new first-year Duke students – the university’s 100th incoming class – arrived for Move-In Day, an annual rite of passage. With machine-like precision, teams of administrators and upperclass students helped usher students into their home away from home.

A move-in to remember

Cars with families bringing new Duke students to campus were greeted by cheering upperclassmen to “Pop that trunk!”

Ed Balleisen reaches deep into a trunk as Jerome Lynch and Nina King pick up items from the edge
Jerome Lynch, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering, Edward Balleisen, vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, and Director of Athletics Nina King help unload cars.
An electric atmosphere greets students and parents as they drive up outside of dorms on East Campus.
Two women walk down a narrow hallway glancing in open doors
Margaret Macgurn of Nashville excitedly walks to her dorm room with her mom, Elena, and younger brother, William.
Two family members pull a sheet over a bed in a brightly lit dorm room while a first-year student looks on
First-year Aizzat Chaudhary gets help making his bed in his new room.
Men's Basketball Coach Jon Scheyer holds his child as he stands near the door in a dorm room talking to a family
Men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer chats with families after helping them move into the dorm.

Emotional farewells

After families picnicked along Abele Quad, they said their goodbyes. Students and their families then sat separately in Cameron Indoor Stadium where they listened to words of wisdom from familiar campus faces, starting with Duke President Vincent Price.

Seven people including two first-year students pose for a photo under large trees on the quad while someone takes their photo with a phone
First-years Ahaan Shah of Mumbai, India, and Sath Vik of Johnson City, Tenn., pose with their families.
A family poses for a photo in front of a balloon arch that is in front of a stone arch on west campus
Zachary Powery poses for a photo with sister Moriah, mom Gail, and dad, Luke, dean of Duke Chapel.
A group of first-year students poses while family members sitting on the ground snap photos
First-years pose for last-minute photos before saying family goodbyes.
A first-year student raises her hands in while dancing past a tunnel of cheering upperclassmen on her way into Cameron Indoor Stadium
Students were cheered on -- and cheered -- as they entered Cameron Indoor Stadium.

“You come here not to blend in but to stand out. That’s why we brought you here.”

Kara Lawson, Duke women’s basketball coach
Basketball player Toby Fournier stands with her arm around Coach Lawson as she holds a microphone and addresses the first-year students and parents in Cameron Indoor stadium
Fresh off her Olympic gold medal, women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson addressed the new students in Cameron Indoor Stadium and introduced first-year player Toby Fournier, who, she said, would be the first woman to dunk in Cameron. Lawson spoke alongside President Vincent Price and coaches Manny Diaz and Jon Scheyer.
A crowd of students in the bleachers in Cameron Indoor Stadium wearing their Duke jerseys smiling and clapping
Words of welcome from coaches and administrators drew applause and cheers from the new Blue Devils
A student in her Duke jersey making a heart sign to family higher up in the stands
First-years send signs of affection to parents in the stands at the Family Farewell event.
Read more: Duke’s 100th Class Arrives »

Marking the Moment

Marking the end of their first week at Duke, the Class of 2028 poses for their big photo against a backdrop of a pink and blue sky. The class photo is the last time students will all be together until they gather for commencement in four years.

A group of seven students sitting in the grass among fallen confetti in front of the Wall Center on East Campus
The Blue Devil and a first-year student pointing at the camera while the Class of 2028 lines of for their class photo
The Class of 2028 class photo on East Campus with a aerial view of students filling in the numbers '2028' with the Wall Center in the background at sunset
Read more: The Class of 2028 Has Its Photo Moment »

An Old Academic Tradition,
A New Academic Year

This year, Convocation marked the beginning of the new academic year for the 100th class to enter Duke, looking forward to the start of Duke’s second century.

Christoph Guttentag, dean of admissions, standing at a podium with president price and other Duke faculty and administration sitting in the background
Christoph Guttentag, dean of admissions, introduces the Class of 2028.
Heather Raslan standing at a podium delivering her address to the new students
Heather Raslan, president of Duke Student Government, offers some words of wisdom to the first-years.
Student seated in chairs on the floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium clapping and smiling
Students applaud as speakers conclude their remarks.
President Price is full academic regalia speaking at the podium
President Price welcomes Duke’s 100th class.

“The traditional excellence of this university has been systematically built over the past century ... Our excellence into our future, into our second century, is now in your hands and those of your classmates.”

President Vincent E. Price

Class of 2028 by the Numbers

50

States

87

Countries

1,200+

Different High Schools

Read more: Duke’s 100th Class Is a ‘Talented and Diverse’ Collection »

A Global Convocation

As students arrived in Durham, Duke Kunshan University in China welcomed 349 Chinese and 141 international students from 38 countries to a new academic year.

Read more: Duke Kunshan University Welcomes Its Largest Class Ever »

Welcoming Graduate Students

This year, Duke welcomed 1,155 new graduate students into the Duke community. This new cohort will become an integral part of the academic mission of the university as they begin their journey “from learner to scholar.”

1,155

New Graduate Students

A group of graduate students around a cocktail table pause and pose for a picture
Students pose for a picture while enjoying the Graduate & Professional School reception at the Washington Duke Inn.
Two students pose with the Blue Devil and President Price as they make the Bull City sign
President Price makes the Bull City sign with the Blue Devil mascot and incoming graduate students.
A group of ten graduate and professionals students wearing light-up devil horns pose with the Blue Devil mascot
Graduate students don devil horns as they pose with the Blue Devil.
Read more: They Begin the Transition ‘From Learner to Scholar’ »

As students head back to class, we look forward to celebrating all of the wonderful accomplishments and achievements of the Duke community in the coming academic year and a once in a century weekend.