A first-year student high fives someone in the crowd. First-year students participated in the March through the Arches tradition on the last day of Welcome Days. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
First-year students Emiliano Granados from St. Paul, Isaiah Trimbo from Belle Plaine, and David Berndt from Minnetonka (left to right) pose for a picture before participating in the St. Thomas tradition. Granados said Welcome Days has been really engaging. “It’s really nice to be in a setting to meet people,” he said. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
President Julie Sullivan prepares students to walk through the arches: “When you pass through the arches at St. Thomas as new students… you become part of a learning community that supports and challenges you.” (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
Two students clap after Sullivan spoke about first-year students becoming part of the St. Thomas community when marching through the arches. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
First-year students walk toward the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex for the welcome ceremony. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
Two first-year students smile as they walk through the lower quad. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
Welcome Day Leaders (left to right) Natalie Bents, Jade Fruge, Adam Revoir, Megan Smith, Iggy Pham and Emily Tigges smile for a picture. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
First-year international student Varada Shawrikar holds a flag from her home country, India. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
The crowd of first-year students line up in preparation for the ceremony. (Samantha HoangLong/TommieMedia)
First-year students participated in the yearly St. Thomas tradition of marching through the arches on Tuesday. Director Samantha HoangLong captured some of the moments from the event.