Class of 2015 Signs in At Drew Ceremony [VIDEO]

officials welcomed a new incoming freshman class of “Drewids” Wednesday in opening ceremonies held at the school’s Madison campus, exhorting them to take chances in making the most of themselves and their opportunities in an uncertain economic environment.

A total of 470 young men and women of the Class of 2015, their friends and families filled Baldwin Gymnasium to hear speakers, sign the traditional matriculation pages, and participate in the passing of class banners.

Click here to see video coverage of Drew's Opening Ceremony, and click here to read about Drew's freshman move-in day.

University President Robert Weisbuch called the Methodist college a “flight school,” urging the new class to “stretch and fly. Take what is unique about yourselves to improve your own lives and improve the human condition. The people who go wrong are those who don’t follow a dream. Take what you learn in the classroom out to the streets, and bring what you learn there back into classroom.”

Lillie Edwards, a professor of history and African-American studies and recipient of the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2011, told the class that “none of us can write our own history if we hide in closets or allow ourselves to be swallowed up by the crowd and its very loud opinion. We [teachers, administrators and classmates] don’t draft the history of your life, we proofread and edit and teach. Drew’s role is to help you find what is most worthy in life, how to be true to yourself, how to write your own story, and do it as a member of the community.”

Dean Jonathan Levin reminded the class that “what you learn here serves as the foundation for what you learn the rest of your life...welcome to the community of Drewids and we wish you good luck on the exciting journey ahead.”

Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs Sara Waldron led the class in the first-year student pledge, then, row by row, the new students made their way to the stage to sign the school’s matriculation logs. The logs are a tradition revived some years ago at the university founded in 1929, and are stored in the university archives.

Student Government President Franklin Barbosa closed the ceremony by leading the passing of the banners from one class to another, another honored tradition.