Westmont Warrior Welcome: Record Local Enrollment, Historic Firsts

About 400 new students arrive at Westmont for Orientation and Warrior Welcome from Aug. 26-30. First-generation students and 21 international students, including dual citizens, missionary and third-culture students, arrive early on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for First Connections. The pre-Orientation program emphasizes the cultural transition and interpersonal connections vital to thriving in college.

The Orientation Team and student life staff excitedly welcome incoming students from 27 U.S. states and territories and 10 countries (Brazil, Germany, Guam, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Philippines, Rwanda, Spain, United Arab Emirates, U.K. and Uganda). Westmont also celebrates the arrival of 55 new students from Santa Barbara County, the second largest local group in history and a 28% increase from last year.

Twenty percent of the students are the first in their families to attend a four-year college, 40% represent students of color (with 27% identifying as Hispanic), and 46 are transferring to Westmont. Thirty-seven percent of the new students are men with 63% women.

Westmont awarded academic scholarships to 93% of incoming first-year and transfer students ranging from $15,000 to nearly $43,000. Additionally, 63 high-achieving, first-year Augustinian Scholars earned scholarships ranging from $28,000 to nearly $43,000.

This year’s incoming class enters with an impressive average GPA of 4.2. New students have expressed the most interest in majoring in economics and business (17%), kinesiology (13%), biology (11%) and psychology (10%), while 7% have yet to specify a possible major.

The new class includes 118 student-athletes, including 18 members of the inaugural STUNT team and the college’s first para-athlete.

The Service of Commitment, a formal ceremony featuring faculty in robes, takes place on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 3:30 pm in Murchison Gym. A bagpipe fanfare then leads new students on their First Walk through the Formal Gardens.

Most of this year’s incoming first-year students were born in 2008. That year, Barack Obama became the first Black president of the U.S., Bitcoin was introduced, Michael Phelps won a record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Summer Olympics, the Tea Fire broke out in Montecito and destroyed 210 homes, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy race, and the release of Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

These young adults represent a late cohort of Gen Z, a generation marked by ubiquitous technology, video-first platforms, and high racial and ethnic diversity. Having spent much of their junior high years during pandemic lockdowns, they navigate unique modern dynamics, including balancing both in-person and online identities.