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Convocation 2026

By WashU

August 25^th, 2026

The 1,945 members of the Class of 2030 converged in Brookings Quadrangle on Saturday, Aug. 22, to celebrate Convocation and party in Tisch Park. They wore the colors of their residential communities, cheered their academic deans and listened to words of wisdom from university leaders. Their message: You’ve got this.

The class represents 29 countries and every region of the United States: 31% hail from the Midwest; 17% from the West; 15% from the middle states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as well as Washington, D.C.; 15% from foreign countries and U.S. territories; 10% from the South; 8% from the Southwest; and 5% from New England. The states with the highest enrollment are Missouri, Illinois, California, New York and Texas.

This collection of images and videos captures the excitement as WashU welcomed the Class of 2030 to their new home and community.

“Today, you are joining 1,900 other people who are also about to be bad at things, on purpose, in the open, together. Someone here tonight will spot the gap in your argument before you do. Someone’s sour note will spoil the song. Let it be. Getting it wrong before you get it right is what we’re meant to do here at college. Give one another grace, let each other be wrong sometimes, and remind each other, as Miles Davis once said, that if you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note you play that determines if it’s good or bad.”

— Chancellor Andrew D. Martin

“Our team chose you from more than 33,000 first-year applicants. Your stories showed your intelligence, grit, resilience and determination. They also revealed your kindness, grace, work ethic and genuine concern for others. We knew without a doubt that you were right for WashU, and WashU was right for you.”

– Ronné Turner, vice provost of enrollment management

“This is one of the most talented, most driven classes we have ever welcomed. Every single one of you is sitting next to someone extraordinary. So hear their stories. Recognize the beauty in them. But do not mimic them, and do not measure yourself against them...your story doesn't need to look like anyone else's to be remarkable. It already is…because it's yours.”

– Anna Gonzalez, vice chancellor for student success

“One lesson that WashU has taught me, and one that I am still learning, is this: Give it everything you’ve got; pour yourself into that research project; show up for your friends, take the chance, lead with intention, love people well. Give your whole heart to whatever matters to you. And then, let it go. Walk away knowing that you showed up completely. That you did the work. That you were brave enough to even try.”

– Student speaker Reagan Winegar, senior in Arts & Sciences

“Students like you have become very good at looking like you already know the answer. Here at WashU, you’re probably going to unlearn that. And those will be some of the hardest, most valuable moments of your education. If you’re doing college right, you’ll raise your hand with the wrong answer sometimes. You’ll audition and not get the part, or run for something and lose. The students who get the most out of their education are those who know that they’ve arrived here unfinished.”

— Chancellor Andrew D. Martin

“At WashU, we raise each other up, encourage each other, support each other and eventually share in a communal pride when any of us achieves. So welcome to your new home, welcome to our exceptional community of human beings who care a lot about the mission of WashU and also each other.”

– Ronné Turner, vice provost of enrollment management

Footnotes

Photos by Whitney Curtis, Sid Hastings & Tom Malkowicz. Video by TJ Ingrassia & Tom Malkowicz. Curation and design by Whitney Curtis. Story by Diane Torian Keaggy.

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FootNotes

Photos by Whitney Curtis, Sid Hastings & Tom Malkowicz. Video by TJ Ingrassia & Tom Malkowicz. Curation and design by Whitney Curtis. Story by Diane Torian Keaggy.