September 19, 2024

by Liz Mendecino ’26

Just a few short weeks ago, Ramapo College welcomed 1,133 first-year students to campus, the largest incoming class in college history. It is an exciting time to be a Roadrunner! These 1,133 students join the Ramapo College community to:

• Learn how to think, not what to think.
• Pique their intellectual curiosity through interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities. 
• Make friends and memories that will last a lifetime.
• Follow their passions, establish their goals, and be their authentic selves.
• Embrace a transformative education delivered by mentoring faculty and staff.
• Cheer for each other in the classroom and on the field.
• Feel the warmth of a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive community ready to share their lived experiences.
• Become empathetic problem solvers, ethical change agents, and responsible leaders who make a positive impact and thrive in an ever changing world. 
• Embody the spirit of being bold, being kind, and being good teammates.

The Class of 2028 experienced the time-honored tradition of Arching as family and friends cheered for them on both sides of Mansion Road. Roadrunners, welcome to Ramapo College!

Throughout their time at Ramapo College, Roadrunners will participate in a wide array of outside of the classroom initiatives, organizations, events, and other community-building opportunities. Roadrunners not only leave with a degree that will take them to a career or a postgraduate education in which they will succeed, but with relationships that withstand the test of time. 

The Class of 2028 includes:

• 132 Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) scholars, the largest group in college history who chose to call Ramapo their #HomeSweetPo. 
• 500 students who are the first to attend college in their families, making this the largest First Generation group of incoming students in college history. 
• 145 students who chose one of Ramapo’s 4+1 programs as an accelerated path to earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years, reflecting a 47% increase over 2023.
• 68 Honors College students.
• Students who hail from six different countries, nine states, and all 21 counties in New Jersey.
• A 93-year old lifelong learner.

What does 1,133 new Roadrunners mean? It means there will be even more people in this world who prioritize excellence in personhood alongside excellence in academics and one’s career. Roadrunners are boldly ascending in number, and their time at Ramapo will help them boldly ascend into creating successful, fulfilling lives as alumni. Read more about the Class of 2028 and what Ramapo faculty, staff, and alumni are up to in the Fall 2024 issue of the Ramapo College Magazine.