St. Mary’s College of Maryland proudly presents the class of 2021! On Friday, July 14, 2017, SMCM welcomed nearly 300 new students to its campus for New Student Information Day. Incoming students and their parents were able to explore the campus, meet with current faculty and students, and obtain valuable information regarding the upcoming transition.
The class of 2021 represents 15 different states and 20 different Maryland counties. In the class, 91 are the first in their families to attend college, while 53 incoming first-years have a parent or sibling who also attended SMCM. So far, biology, environmental studies, and psychology are the most popular majors. Members of the Office of Advancement had the opportunity to interview some of these intriguing new community members.
Teresa Dimeo never wanted to be “a face in the crowd” at a large university. After trying out a mock class at St. Mary’s Admitted Students Day, she fell in love with the small college atmosphere: the intimate class sizes, the hands-on learning approach, and the enthusiasm of the professors. She looks forward to learning from passionate professors who care about the success of their students … and to taking a kayak out on the river in her spare time! When asked what the determining factor was in her matriculation decision, Teresa responded, “the feel of St. Mary’s.” Every school has a feel, and St. Mary’s just happened to feel right for her. Welcome, Teresa!
Even during New Student Information Day, the class of 2021 started making connections. Tim Bingley and Janos Balazs, future SMCM roommates, befriended one another by lunchtime. Tim, a native of Anne Arundel County, was captivated by the beauty and history of the St. Mary’s campus. With a passion for languages, he plans to major in Asian studies and looks forward to studying abroad. Janos, from Calvert County, considered the St. Mary’s culture and strong academics when making his decision. He loves writing and government and plans to major in English and political science. He may even write for The Point News! Thanks to the St. Mary’s Way in action, new students of diverse interests and backgrounds can make connections and develop lasting friendships. Welcome, Tim and Janos!
Elizabeth McGruder from Baltimore knows the promising future that lies before her with an education from SMCM. Determined to become a trauma surgeon, Elizabeth will pursue a biology/philosophy double major with a pre-med concentration. When researching colleges, she wanted a strong academic program that allowed her to work closely with faculty, and St. Mary’s was the perfect fit. Elizabeth grew up with exposure to the medical field because of her mom, Lisa, who works as a nurse. Her mom, dad, and cousin came to New Student Information Day to support her, with her cousin traveling all the way from Mississippi just for this special day! Everyone— including Elizabeth—feels excited for her to spread her wings. Welcome to St. Mary’s, Elizabeth!
The St. Mary’s community proudly welcomes this diverse, intelligent, hard-working group of individuals to its campus. We look forward to your many accomplishments and adventures during your time at SMCM!