DePauw Stories

The first-year residence halls are once again bursting with life after DePauw’s Class of 2029 made its long-awaited arrival on campus over the weekend. For the newest members of the DePauw community, this is the first step of many toward bold dreams and ambitious goals.

“It's going to be a journey, and it's going to be a fun one,” said Isaiah Brundige ’29. Not only is he looking forward to taking classes in the humanities, but he is also eager to dig deeper into the study of languages and international relations. Most of all, he wants to make an impact on others during his next four years. “I'm very excited to leave something here.”

Brundige is not alone. The newest Tigers already embody the same commitment to excellence that has set DePauw students apart for generations. With an average high school GPA of 3.9, the students in this class begin their collegiate journeys with a proven track record of academic success. They are highly motivated competitors (36 percent are student-athletes), ground-breaking pioneers (22 percent are the first members of their family to attend college) and loyal contributors to the DePauw legacy (15 percent have a parent, grandparent or sibling connection to the university).

Although each student has their own stories about what drew them to DePauw, Logan Phillips ’29 spoke for many when he cited the university’s intimate and intentional academic environment. “I really enjoy how diverse the community is and how specialized each of the classes are for each individual,” he said. “You get to be with 10 or 15 people in your class, and you really get to know your professors well.”

This feature is one that Lindsay Winslow Brown '06 recalls from her own time at DePauw. Now that her son Connor Brown ’29 is beginning his own student experience in Greencastle, she’s grateful that so many distinctive assets of a DePauw education have remained unchanged.

“The people very much feel the same,” she said. “There's a lot of culture, a lot of variety, a lot of diversity. The strong emphasis on academics is definitely still here, and I love that there's the emphasis still on student life.”

For Connor, this continuity contributes to his optimism about the future, even as he faces big transitions and bittersweet farewells. “I'm excited, anxious and kind of sad to leave my family,” he explained. “But at the same time, I'm also focused on my future. It's all the emotions.”

Interested in seeing more sights from move-in day? Photos will be added to this public gallery.