Fall Convocation welcomes highest achieving incoming class in Fort Lewis College history

FLC President Dene Thomas addresses the Class of 2020 at Fall Convocation 2016.

In between storms and sun, the Fort Lewis College Class of 2020 streamed into campus for the start of their FLC experience. Hundreds of freshmen, along with transfer students, went through the College’s Orientation program, which began on Thursday, August 25.

This year’s incoming class owns a special recognition as the highest achieving incoming class in Fort Lewis College history. Nearly a third come to school with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

This milestone is the result of a push by FLC to admit students who are better prepared to hit the ground running on the first day of their college careers. With new programs like Computer Engineering beginning soon, incoming students will need increased preparation before college to thrive in the challenging curriculum they will find at Fort Lewis College.

The culmination of Orientation is Fall Convocation on Friday afternoon. The new Skyhawks gathered in Whalen Gym with their family and friends to hear from representatives of the FLC faculty, students, and administration, including President Dene Thomas.

President Thomas related some of the recent accomplishments of Fort Lewis College students, alumni and professors. Among the many highlights she mentioned was Dr. Schuyler van Engelenburg (Chemistry, ’05), winner of the Boettcher Foundation’s Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Award. She talked about Giancarlo Vigil (Economics, ’15), founder of the Mate Exchange, Inc., the winner of the inaugural Fort Lewis College Hawk Tank business plan competition, and recent inductee into the Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs. She recognized the Skyhawk Cycling Team for being ranked as the #2 cycling team in the nation.

She then challenged the students to work hard and commit to their education. If they did, then she would be relating their accomplishments to the brand new FLC students who would attend Fall Convocation in the years to come.