This year, Lawrence welcomed 391 incoming students, 346 first-year, 29 transfer, and 16 international students to campus. The new students are from more than 37 states and 10 countries.

Carter framed the annual ceremony as an opportunity to reflect on a fundamental question: 鈥淲ho are we, together?鈥�

Throughout the address, she returned repeatedly to the idea that community is not defined by geography or circumstances, but by the choices people make to support, learn from, and care for one another.

鈥淐ommunity is neither simple nor automatic,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淐ommunity is something deeper: it is a commitment. It is a relationship. It is a responsibility.鈥�

Drawing on the work of philosopher and educator John Dewey, Carter said community is created through interaction and communication. She pointed to both moments of loss and moments of celebration over the past year as examples of how the Lawrence community has demonstrated its strength.

She referenced the deaths of Professors Garth Bond and Danielle Joyner and alumnus Alex Stanger 鈥�25, noting that community is revealed not only in grief but in the ways people honor and extend the impact of those who have been lost.

鈥淐ommunity transforms loss into purpose, remembrance into action, and individual lives into lasting legacies that continue to shape those who follow,鈥� Carter said.

As one example, she highlighted the recent creation of the Art History Travel Fund by Dale Schuh 鈥�70 and his wife, Annette, in honor of Joyner. The fund will support student learning opportunities while preserving Joyner鈥檚 legacy.

Carter also pointed to milestones that reflect Lawrence鈥檚 future, including the naming of Hall Commons in honor of Susan Long Hall 鈥�76 and her family, and plans for The Hub, the university鈥檚 new wellness, recreation, and creative arts facility in downtown Appleton.

鈥淐ommunities are built only through shared purpose, mutual care, and collective effort,鈥� she said.

Lessons from Beyond Campus
Carter shared a personal story about helping organize a family reunion in her hometown, an experience that reinforced for her the evolving nature of community.

The reunion was originally scheduled to begin at an American Legion Post established in 1947 by Calvin J. Spann, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. The post was created at a time when many Black veterans lacked welcoming places to gather and find support.

Weeks before the event, however, an SUV crashed into the building, causing significant damage and forcing her family to find another location.

A neighboring American Legion Post immediately agreed to host the gathering.

For Carter and her family, the gesture carried special significance because the welcoming post represented a place that decades earlier would not have accepted African American veterans.

鈥淲e were reminded that communities are not fixed. They evolve,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淲alls that once divided people can come down.鈥�

She added that a strong community grows when more people can see themselves within it.

鈥淎 community is strongest when more people can say, 鈥楾his place belongs to me, too,鈥欌�� Carter said.

Community Revealed in Times of Challenge
A second lesson in community emerged closer to home when a tornado struck the Fox Cities region this summer.

While Lawrence鈥檚 campus avoided the most severe damage, neighboring communities, including Menasha and Doty Island, experienced significant destruction.

Carter praised the response that followed, including volunteers who assisted community members, those who helped displaced colleagues, and efforts to support Menasha High School after the storm.

鈥淎cross the Fox Cities, neighbors helped neighbors,鈥� she said. 鈥淪trangers became partners. Communities became stronger by refusing to leave anyone behind.鈥�

She also thanked Joe King, associate vice president for facilities, and his team for their work restoring the Lawrence campus following the storm.

Among the losses was a beloved tree on Main Hall Green that suffered irreparable damage. Carter said the university has worked to preserve portions of the tree for future educational and campus uses, including potential teaching and research projects.

Its legacy, she said, serves as a reminder that community is connected not only to people, but also to the places and traditions that help define an institution.

鈥淐ommunity is not measured during moments of comfort,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淐ommunity reveals itself during moments of challenge.鈥�

The Liberal Arts and Responsibility to Others
Carter connected the theme of community to Lawrence鈥檚 educational mission, describing the liberal arts as more than a collection of academic disciplines.

鈥淭he liberal arts are not simply a collection of disciplines,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are a way of understanding human relationships and human possibility.鈥�

While higher education is often discussed in terms of careers and professional outcomes, Carter encouraged students to consider a broader question.

鈥淲hat obligations do I have to others?鈥� she asked.

That question, she said, lies at the heart of both a liberal arts education and civic engagement.

The liberal arts prepare students not only for employment but also for citizenship, leadership, and participation in communities. Universities, she said, play an important role in helping people build connections across differences and learn to engage productively with perspectives unlike their own.

鈥淎 healthy community does not eliminate differences,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淚t creates the conditions for differences to coexist productively.鈥�

Celebrating Achievement
Carter also highlighted accomplishments from across the Lawrence community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Among those recognized were Erin Lesser, who was named the Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music; Graham Sazama, who received a National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions grant; and Emma Snyder, managing director of the Business & Entrepreneurship Center, who was honored as a Future 15 recipient by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce.

She also pointed to the accomplishments of students and recent alumni, including Yenching Fellow Cao Le Quynh Anh 鈥�26, Fulbright recipients Kaitlin Buelow 鈥�26 and Jude Lawler 鈥�26, and bluegrass musicians Tashi Litch 鈥�24, Evan Snoey 鈥�23, and Ben Lewis 鈥�25, who took first place in the Telluride Bluegrass Band Contest.

While the achievements reflected individual excellence, Carter emphasized that none occurred in isolation.

She said those accomplishments reflected the support of faculty, staff, mentors, classmates, family members, and friends who helped make them possible.

鈥淎chievement may be recognized individually,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it is almost always nurtured collectively.鈥�

Looking ahead
As Lawrence approaches its 180th anniversary in 2027, Carter called on students, faculty, and staff to view themselves as stewards of an institution built and sustained across generations.

She pointed to several initiatives that will help shape Lawrence鈥檚 future, including the opening of The Hub, the completion of the Memorial Chapel fa莽ade restoration, implementation of the new Liberal Arts Requirements, and the launch of Lawrence Compass, a student-success ecosystem that will unify advising, academic support, and career development resources.

The Hub and Memorial Chapel, Carter said, represent complementary aspects of the university鈥檚 future.

鈥淢emorial Chapel reminds us that community requires continuity,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Hub reminds us that community requires innovation.鈥�

Looking to the year ahead, Carter encouraged students to seek experiences and relationships beyond their comfort zones.

鈥淔ollow your curiosity into spaces and experiences that feel unfamiliar,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ake a class that challenges your assumptions. Strike up a conversation with someone whose experiences differ from your own.鈥�

She closed the address by reminding the Lawrence community that belonging is not something that simply exists. It is something that must be built and renewed through everyday actions.

鈥淐ommunity is not something we inherit fully formed,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淚t is something we create together.鈥�

Quoting theologian Howard Thurman, Carter urged the audience to remain open to new people and perspectives, saying communities flourish when they welcome others into their midst.

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Families and supporters filled campus throughout Move-In Day as new Lawrentians settled into residence halls and gathered for the President鈥檚 Welcome in Memorial Chapel.

The President’s Welcome brought together 391 incoming students, 346 first-year, 29 transfer, and 16 international students, along with their families, faculty, and staff, to celebrate the beginning of their Lawrence journeys. The Class of 2030 represents students from more than 37 states and 10 countries. Among U.S. students, the most represented states are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and New York. New international students come from 10 countries, with Canada, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Norway, and South Korea as the most represented countries.

Robert Noak, vice president of enrollment and dean of admissions, reminded students that Lawrence intentionally selected them for the community they are now joining.

鈥淲hile you chose Lawrence, it is important to remember something else: Lawrence chose you,鈥� Noak said. 鈥淲e saw in you the qualities that will strengthen this community and help you thrive in it. Class of 2030, welcome to Lawrence. Your story starts here.鈥�

Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized belonging, resilience, and the freedom to pursue multiple passions. Tara Winston-Sage 鈥�00, dean of spiritual and religious life, told students they each have a unique role to play in shaping the campus community.

鈥淢ay you find that you belong here at Lawrence, knowing that you are meant to be here, that you will add to this place in only the way that you can, and that our community will be so much stronger because you walked through the arch,鈥� Winston-Sage shared.

Chris Clarke, vice president for student life, encouraged students to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, reminding them that setbacks are a natural part of the college experience.

鈥淔ailure here isn鈥檛 a dead end. It鈥檚 a chance to get better, to lift yourself up, and learn from that failure,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淔or if this experience does not challenge you, it will not change you.鈥�

Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of the faculty, shared the purpose of a liberal arts and sciences education, noting that the word 鈥渓iberal鈥� stems from the Latin word liber, meaning free. He said a Lawrence education is designed to prepare students to pursue meaningful lives and contribute thoughtfully to society.

President Laurie A. Carter welcomed the newest Lawrentians by sharing the significance of the Lawrence Arch, a tradition that symbolizes both the beginning and culmination of a student鈥檚 Lawrence experience. She challenged students to stretch beyond their comfort zones, embrace intellectual curiosity, and develop the ethical leadership skills needed to address real-world challenges. Carter also announced the opening of The Hub, a new downtown facility dedicated to wellness, athletic training, music practice, and holistic student development.  

鈥淗igher education is not simply preparation for a job; it is preparation for a meaningful life,鈥� President Carter said. 鈥淭he arch stands as a reminder that education is both a journey and a transformation.鈥�

Lawrence traditions were also highlighted during the Welcome ceremony as LUCC President Brook Schara 鈥�27 inspired students to become active participants in shaping campus life.

鈥淏eing a Lawrentian is a privilege, a gift, and a hard-earned opportunity,鈥� Schara said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an open-door invitation to learning, leading, and belonging. You鈥檙e not just going to Lawrence; you鈥檙e helping define and create it.鈥�

The continuity between generations of Lawrentians was reinforced when Maggie Schmidt 鈥�12, president of the 糖心vlog Alumni Association, introduced the passing of the Class Colors, a tradition that started at Milwaukee-Downer College, a premier women鈥檚 college that consolidated with Lawrence in 1964. Faith Onukaogu from the Class of 2026 formally presented the Class of 2030 with its red class banner, symbolizing the newest students鈥� place within the Lawrence community.

鈥淵ou are joining a community of more than 22,000 alumni across the globe,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淵ou are a student for four or five years, but you are forever a Lawrentian.鈥�

The sense of belonging celebrated throughout the ceremony was already taking shape for many new students. Classmates, volunteers, and residence hall extraordinaries helped ease the transition to campus, while the Welcome Arch procession offered an early glimpse of the supportive community that defines the Lawrence experience.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited. It鈥檚 been a really welcoming community,鈥� Aidan Wilbert 鈥�30 said. 鈥淓verybody has been very helpful with move-in and everything. The whole campus seems just amazing, and I鈥檓 really excited to start classes.鈥�

As students begin their first days on campus, Kristi Koshuta, first-year dean, reminded them that Welcome Week is about more than learning where classes are located or finding the quickest path to Andrew Commons. It is an opportunity to build confidence, form meaningful connections, and begin creating a sense of home at Lawrence.

“My role is to help you find the people, resources, confidence, and perspective you need to create your own path,” Koshuta said. “I hope you learn to navigate uncertainty. I hope you discover strengths you didn’t know you had. I hope you find your voice and learn to listen to others, too.”

Koshuta pointed to a week filled with opportunities to connect, including Lawrence Unlocked sessions, small-group activities led by EPIC leaders, and off-campus adventures ranging from kayaking and rock climbing to cooking experiences. Through those shared experiences, Koshuta said, students will begin building the friendships and sense of community that will shape their Lawrence journeys.

“The community you are hoping to find does not happen by accident,” Koshuta told the Class of 2030. “It happens when people are willing to show up, take risks, and be present for one another.”

Fall term classes begin Sept. 14. By then, members of the Class of 2030 will have already begun building the relationships, confidence, and sense of belonging that will shape their Lawrence journeys for years to come and position them to make an impact far beyond the Lawrence campus. 听听

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