Selective Class of 2015 Arrives at Westmont

About 1,200 students arrived at Westmont for the start of classes Aug. 29, including 335 first-year students representing the class of 2015. The incoming class includes four National Merit Scholars and 275 students who’ve earned an academic merit scholarship, including three Monroe Scholars. Monroe Scholarships, which honor top students with full-tuition scholarships, have been awarded to Katie Fedor of Stockton, Calif., Peter Matthews of Lombard, Ill., and Sophia Meulenberg of Sandpoint, Idaho. This year’s Monroe Scholars have a combined average honors GPA of 4.67 and an average SAT score of 2350 (out of 2400), the highest in the scholarship’s 10-year history.

Joyce Luy, dean of admission who retired at the end of August, says this is one of the most selective classes in Westmont history. The office of admission received a record number of applications this year, a 27 percent increase over last year. The average SAT score of first-year students is 1780, 10 points higher than last year.

“This is a class of creative, bright, young men and women who have a lot to contribute to Westmont and the global community,” Luy says. “They have stretched themselves intellectually and spiritually and are more than ready for the next step in their growth.”

Luy is also pleased about the composition of the incoming class. North American ethnic minorities make up 29 percent (97) of first-year students, and 36 percent of the class of 2015 are men.

Local communities are well represented, as 69 first-year and transfer students come from the Tri-Counties. Four international students traveled for Westmont from Australia, France, Netherlands and Tajikistan. There are 65 transfer students this year, coming from Texas A&M, University of Minnesota, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Gonzaga to name a few. Seventeen North American ethnic minorities have transferred to Westmont.