New GMercyU Residents Arrive on Campus

Gwynedd Mercy University welcomed 150 freshmen and transfer students into the residence halls on Thursday, Aug. 25.

The new residents make up some of the 490 first-year students at GMercyU, including 259 transfer students and 231 first-year students.

First-year students hail from as far away as South Korea, China, Alaska and California. But not all incoming students have that far of a commute; the top feeder high school for this academic year was Abington High School.

Pennridge High School, Archbishop Ryan High School, William Tennent High School and Archbishop Wood High School rounded out the top five feeder high schools this year.

All new students will attend orientation in the days leading up to the first day of class. After lunch with their parents, the students will attend the class blessing during which GMercyU faculty and staff express their commitment to the students' intellectual, personal and spiritual development.

On Friday, all first-year and transfer students will participate in service projects both on campus and in the local community. Some students will volunteer at Manna on Main while others work at the Impact Thrift Processing Center. Still some others will help to clear the Wissahickon Watershed, and some will help weed the gardens at Roth Sustainable Farms.

But Orientation isn't all about hard work; the students will get some time to unwind at Six Flags Great Adventure on Saturday.

Returning students will be back in the residence halls on Sunday, and classes begin Monday 8/29.