University of Richmond Welcomes New Spiders

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND ─ Classes kick off Aug. 23 at the University of Richmond with more than 850 first-year students arriving to campus for in-person classes.

The Class of 2025 has the highest incoming grade point average with an average of 3.71, and is one of the most diverse classes in UR history with 29% U.S. students of color. International students comprise 11% of the class, and 14% are first-generation students.  

Outside of class, 238 were athletic team captains, 556 earned varsity letters, 23 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout or the Girl Scout Gold Award, 31 were yearbook or student newspaper editors, 95 worked at least 15 hours a week during the academic year, and 41 were president of their class or student government.

The incoming class is highly accomplished. One student is a youth champion of Go, believed to the oldest board game in existence. Another created a fundraiser in cooperation with the U.S. Pain Foundation for children living with chronic pain. One is the sole teenage female professional sports car racer in North America, and another is a competitive sailor who competes in overnight sailing regattas. Another is a junior firefighter. One has already published five research articles and participated in 16 science fairs.

“Our new Spiders are scholars in all disciplines, athletes, musicians, artists, actors, dancers, volunteers, interns, entrepreneurs, and researchers,” said Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for Enrollment Management. “They are multilingual, multitalented, and future facing. They care about the future of the world at the community level and the global level, and they act for change.”

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Note: The numbers above are current as of Aug. 1, 2021. Enrollment data is not final until the University’s census date, which is Oct. 1.