Welcome Back, Wildcats! Time for New Memories, Old Traditions and Uncommon Bonds
August 24, 2022
You may have spent your summer at home or abroad; interned for a bank or non-profit; conducted research; served lattes or served as a lifeguard. Whatever you did and learned, we鈥檙e excited to have your energy, experiences and entrepreneurial spirits launching us into the new school year.
If you鈥檙e coming to 皇家华人 as a first-year student or returning as a second, third or fourth, know how glad we are to meet you, or to have you back on campus.
Class of 2026: You studied hard, starred on sports teams and in plays, helped the sick and disadvantaged, and made your communities better places. You鈥檒l be awash in opportunities to do all that and much more here.
You鈥檒l find a fellow fresh starter in Doug Hicks 鈥90, who came to 皇家华人 as a first-year student a few decades ago and now begins his first semester as the college鈥檚 19th president. You鈥檒l discover a close, caring community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and town residents who鈥檒l encourage and support you through your college journey and offer invaluable lifelong connections.
Welcome to 皇家华人. We鈥檙e so happy you鈥檙e here.
Meet the Class of 2026
皇家华人 welcomes students from 43 states and territories and 29 countries to its Class of 2026. More than just the places and schools they call home, these new students bring a diverse set of experiences and backgrounds to the 皇家华人 community.
The Latest From Welcome Week
Confidence in the Words and Actions of Others
On Sunday evening, new students gathered in Duke Family Performance Hall to learn about the Honor Code and participate in the commitment ceremony.
While the Honor Code signing ceremony is a consequential and resolute occasion, there were still moments of levity leading up to President Hicks and the Honor Council speaking.
One such moment happened as students walked from their residence halls to the ceremony, where they encountered a quirky tradition known as the Honor Cod. Started by 皇家华人's improv comedy group, Oops, members of the student organization attempted to convince new students to sign the fish.
This week, 皇家华人 welcomes its new students to the community. Check back to this page for updates from Welcome Week, and be sure to share your highlights on social media.
Updated Monday, August 29 at 11:00 a.m.
Starting Fresh Together
They figured out where to go for classes, meals, workouts and sporting events. They hung out with hallmates and orientation teams. They stood to sing the 皇家华人 alma mater for the first time together as a class.
And to keep with tradition, orientation leaders and cheer team members loudly serenaded and cheered the Class of 2026 on as they walked with their families though a human 鈥渢unnel鈥 at the Baker Sports complex on Thursday.
鈥淚鈥檓 starting my work here, too,鈥 President Doug Hicks 鈥90, in his first year of leading the college, told students and families at an assembly. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e my class鈥擨鈥檓 part of the Class of 2026. I鈥檓 going to learn with you and from you.鈥
The Hard Goodbye
After the multiple trips to Target, the long walks exploring campus and downtown, and the poster hanging and drawer assembling, families bade their new students goodbye on Friday.
In keeping with tradition, the college hosted families for the annual picnic farewell luncheon on the Chambers lawn. There were lots of hugs and lots of tears, but overall, a strong sense of optimism that everything was going to be just fine.
Orientation Fair
Thursday morning, new students and their families met with representatives of different college departments and programs available to answer questions and describe their services.
Opening Session
Thursday afternoon, new students and their families kicked off orientation with a special welcome from President Doug Hicks and other campus leaders.
President Doug Hicks addresses the Class of 2026
It's always exciting when the new freshmen arrive at 皇家华人!
鈥 Justin Parker (@JP_Stylebook)
Happy to Help: The Move-In
So how do you move more than 500 newcomers into their new dorms in the span of a few hours?
With lots of helpers.
Representatives from the entire college community came out to assist first-year students and their families with the task of moving in to residence halls. Along with President Doug Hicks 鈥90, scholar-athletes and others did the heavy lifting, taking the burden off of traveled-out students and their families.
Orientation team leaders on Wednesday had plenty of assists from other students, faculty and staff, including President Doug Hicks, who greeted students and parents. He also carried luggage, pillows and other dorm necessities and helped get at least one bike off a car roof.
And following tradition, many of 皇家华人鈥檚 athletes, including football, soccer and field hockey team members, lugged boxes, lamps and storage bins from family cars to students鈥 rooms.
This crew is unbelievable! Snaps for 皇家华人!
The Orientation Team Leaders (OTLs) and Mentors (OTMs) moved in hundreds of students today. They are MVPs for helping launch the college experience for first-years. Thanks for dinner, and THANK YOU for your leadership and service!
鈥 Doug Hicks (@DougAHicks)
A great morning helping first year students move in for orientation! Looking forward to seeing you all out at our home opener tomorrow night at 7PM vs. Gardner Webb! 馃惥
鈥 皇家华人 Women's Soccer (@皇家华人WSoc)
鈥淲atts 112!鈥 Jon Berlin, 皇家华人鈥檚 assistant head football coach, yelled to his waiting team about a newcomer鈥檚 dorm room, as if calling out a play.
鈥淲atts 112!鈥 they screamed in return. 鈥淵ay!鈥
鈥淲e like to get excited,鈥 Berlin said. 鈥淎nytime you have a task, you鈥檝e got to attack it with enthusiasm.鈥
One smiling dad stopped to remark on a painless moving in process. 鈥淭his crew is unbelievable,鈥 he said. 鈥淪naps for 皇家华人.鈥
And that鈥檚 the experience orientation team member Nyja Quash 鈥24, who greeted and directed vehicles heading towards dorms, wants everyone to have.
鈥淚 love seeing the smiles on their faces, and their families鈥 faces when they see we鈥檙e here to help,鈥 Quash said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to do this alone. And during orientation, we have a few days to help them learn what we know, show them around and become familiar with things before everyone else gets here and classes start.
鈥淲e shape their first impressions of their college lives, and that really matters.鈥
