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Throughout this article we’ll feature a few of our second-year students whose mentors or parents have a connection to ICO. If you haven't seen the White Coat livestream and are interested, you can rewatch on our YouTube channel. As you know, it takes a lot to become an OD. Sometimes even the first step can be challenging. There are so many questions incoming students have. As you also may know, recruiting students in the current environment has become ever-more challenging. The number of students applying to optometry schools has not significantly increased over the decades, but several new optometry schools have opened. This has led to a glut of schools with few students to fill the seats. One strategy is to provide more scholarships, but we believe there is another more personal element that will help connect students to ICO. And that’s you. 2nd year student, Rachel Lee, being coated by her mentor Erica Ittner, OD '09 Last year we began surveying students who interviewed with us and a full 63% asked for guidance from an ICO Alum when deciding to interview at ICO. Choosing to commit to ICO and optometry is a momentous decision, and many students need guidance to make sure it is the right decision for them. 2nd year student, Amani Khan, being coated by her parents Ghazala Ali, OD '94 and Ayaz Khan, OD '94. We have long known that alumni play an elemental role in attracting new students. These are supported by our latest class’ testimonies as well. They committed because “most of my mentors (went) here.” or “After working with multiple ICO graduates, I knew this was the school for me. Hearing about their experiences solidified my decision. . .” We want to make sure that even more students hear from our phenomenal alumni. 2nd year student, Dayne Crouch, being coated by both his father, Craig Crouch, OD ’90 and grandfather, Don Crouch, OD ’63. During the past recruitment cycle we implemented a new outreach strategy. We committed to having every student begin their academic career at ICO with an alumni mentor. This is part of admissions' larger outreach strategy. Every incoming student will have heard from 3-4 ambassadors (faculty, students, and alumni) before entering ICO. By providing an array of perspectives, ICO empowers students to begin their optometric journey with an understanding of why it’s worth pursuing a degree in optometry and why specifically ICO is a good choice for them. Your perspective matters. We've already seen a positive change in enrollment numbers because of this new strategy. As one current first year said: “When I saw that ICO reached out to me the most out of the other schools (I knew ICO was right for me.)” 2nd year student, Paul DeLakis, being coated by his father Paul DeLakis, OD '88. Choosing the right optometry school remains one of the most important decisions a prospective student can make. ICO remains a top choice for incoming optometry students. Our student body is becoming more diverse and they want to be able to connect with Alumni who share similar stories to their own. To do that, we also need a diverse alumni ambassador base. These new students want to hear from you and to learn what life is like as an optometrist. The field is expanding at an exciting rate, and we look forward to connecting incoming students with you. Alumni make our students’ experience so much richer, and we thank each of you who have already participated and we look forward to working with so many more! For those who haven't yet joined our ambassador program, you can fill out an application here.

This year, as every year before, we welcomed a brand-new class to ICO. The Class of 2026 has now gone through move-in day, several days of orientation and has already taken their first exam! (As you all know, things move very quickly here at ICO.) ICO’s Class of 2026 competing in the ICO Olympics (Held August 20th). It rained intermittently throughout the day, but as you can see, the students still had tons of fun! We asked our newest students what their top school was and if it was ICO, why they chose ICO. We wanted to share a few of their thoughts. We thought they might resonate with you as well: “ICO was my first choice from the very beginning. Based on my mentors and learning about the clinical experience was a huge factor for me. Also the staff played a big role in my decision as well “ICO - most prominent, most professional, oldest, most distinguished. “ICO because of the determination from faculty and other students to help each other out in doing our best. “Everyone was so welcoming, and I felt comfortable here. Incoming first years interacting with our second-year orientation ambassadors. Much of orientation is led by our orientation leaders who play an essential role in guiding our newest class through the next few difficult months. The Class of 2026 participating in one of our newer ICO traditions: Paint n’ Sip. There’s no better way to become oriented to the city than by painting it! We also asked them when they knew ICO was right for them: “After the interview day. I walked out and the whole event had me hooked. “Interview day, immediately. The faculty and students were diverse and extremely friendly. They seemed like people who were already like me and my friends, or people I would want to become friends with. “I truly enjoy Chicago much more than most other cities. "During orientation you didn't focus on the building, you focused on everything you were going to do to help me get through school. The other schools talked about their equipment. That's when I knew. No other school has a tutor program and that's so special to you guys and was a BIG part in drawing me in. A more candid photo of our amazing orientation team leaders. In terms of key characteristics for choosing ICO, these too might sound familiar to you. Our amazing clinic remains the top reason to get an education from ICO, the city of Chicago comes in a close second, and in third, “I felt like I belonged here.” We’re happy to have been able to welcome so many new faces this year, and we look forward to joining these new family members to the larger ICO family. This year as well, we brought back the tradition of our pets giving some helpful advice to first years. Check out our favorites below! Want More? If you want to see more from this year’s orientation, we have an ICO Olympics album and a Move-in Day & Orientation Album. Don’t forget to check out our Instagram reel recap as well as the very first takeover of Fall 2022! (this may require you to sign into Instagram!)

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into optometry? I actually got into optometry because of a few good friends of mine. Back in Canada, they introduced me to the profession. I wanted to learn more so I started shadowing my own optometrist. I was really impressed at how content and happy he was at work, so I asked him, “You’re always smiling. I’ve never seen you upset. Why?” His response: “‘Because I love my job.” I was sold. From there I applied to optometry school. All my friends and I were accepted into PCO/Salus. So, that’s where we went. What drew you to ICO? As a student, I was really interested in low vision. I did a rotation at PCO/Salus in the low vision and disease unit, and I loved it, but I knew I wanted to/needed to learn more. I was looking for a similar clinical experience but also wanted to learn outside the environment that I was accustomed to for the past few years. Faculty members at PCO/Salus spoke highly of ICO so I started doing my research in terms of possibly applying for a ICO residency. The ICO Low Vision/Ocular Disease residency was exactly what I was looking for: a program that would strengthen my knowledge and skills while also introducing me to the teaching aspects of optometry. None of that was possible without help though. The mentorship and advice that I received from the faculty during that residency year is something that I’m appreciative and grateful for. I wouldn’t be teaching if it wasn’t for them. I still lean on those mentors today for support and guidance. I enjoyed my time at ICO so much, I wanted to stay on as faculty, but at that time there weren’t any open positions. Before becoming an optometrist, I wanted to be a high school teacher. For me, it took me doing a residency at ICO to realize teaching needed to be part of who I am as an optometrist. So, I took that dream of becoming a high school teacher and set my sights on becoming a professor. Luckily for me, a position opened at the Southern California College of Optometry. It was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. The seven years I spent teaching there were amazing. Again, I was lucky enough to have great friends and mentors there who helped me become a better teacher and optometrist. However, in the back of my mind, there was always a thought of coming back to ICO. Luckily for me a position opened, and I’ve been here now for three years, I’ve loved every moment of it. You were just awarded the golden apple by three out of the four classes. What values do you try to bring into your teaching? What role do the students play in this larger ecosystem of patient, student, doctor interactions? Understanding and compassion. Every student is different and therefore learns differently. You can’t have the same approach with everyone. I try to adjust and adapt my teaching approach to make concepts simpler and more straightforward for them. I think every professor can attest to this moment when lecturing: you look up from your notes, and just by looking around you can tell: “Yep, you understand exactly what I’m saying” or, “You have no clue what I just said.” When I get those blank faces, that just motivates me to get back to the drawing board to see how I can rework and rewrite the content. I also try to relate to them. I really believe there is no such thing as a dumb question. I want them to always keep asking questions, and I try to be as available as possible, whether that’s through email, informally in the hallway, or of course, in class. In the end, ICO students are the future of this profession. We have to prepare them as much as possible. That's what it always comes back to for me. The other faculty members and I work hard for them because we know they will ultimately change our profession. The better prepared they are, the better off optometry is in terms of both patient care and in terms of advancing our profession. Do you believe that teaching makes you a better practitioner? How do you see optometry changing in the next few years and how do you hope to be a part of it? Teaching makes me a better practitioner. As a teacher, you can’t just keep teaching the same material or get too comfortable. You have to stay up to date in terms of advancements in the field. Luckily for me and the rest of the faculty, ICO students and residents always keep us on our toes! Optometry is shifting towards a disease-based model. Ophthalmologists are overwhelmed with the number of patients and diseases they manage. Fortunately, optometrists are prepared to handle many of the cases ophthalmologists see. The question is do we handle them? More and more the answer is yes. Especially at ICO, students are exposed to many different diseases and their management. I find it exciting, not only that we are now managing all these conditions, but also just how well prepared our students are to take care of them. At ICO, there is a challenging workload, but it’s for a reason. Our students are required to know more because they will be treating and managing more complex cases every single year. And that’s my message generally to incoming students: Optometry school will not be easy, it’s lots of work, but you can do it. We want you to be the best you can be after you graduate from our program. You just have to grind every day to make it through. I get to be part of all this being a teacher at ICO. It’s inspiring to see how the classes my colleagues and I teach are preparing students for the future. What’s one thing you would like incoming students to know about the field of optometry? The field of optometry is incredibly beautiful in terms of its many modes of practice; it’s not just glasses and contacts. There are many specialties that students can choose. Mine originally was low vision. At that time, I was often treating patients where glasses and contacts were no longer enough. For them, vision had to be maximized with magnifiers and other technologies. I loved having that as my foundational work as a recent graduate, but I was also able to shift from low vision to ocular pharmacology because it was something I was interested in. At ICO, there are many different specialties that you can choose to pursue: primary care, pediatrics, cornea and contact lens, neuro, and glaucoma. It’s amazing just how many different places your optometry degree can take you. Look at my own journey, my residency is in low vision, but when the opportunity came to teach ocular pharmacology, I said yes right away. That’s the beauty of our profession, you get to choose what you’re passionate about. You get to build your own journey.

It's finally here! This week the future class of 2026 arrives on campus and will take the first step of this exciting 4-year journey. The years will fly by, life-long relationships will be made, and lives will be transformed in a very short time. We've collected a couple words of advice from our staff and faculty and a few things we think you should keep in mind before you start.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into optometry? I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. I went to kindergarten, elementary, high school, undergrad, and optometry school within the same two miles. Optometry has been part of my life for a long time because I was born with strabismus. By the age of 13, I had already undergone seven strabismus surgeries. I knew I wanted to do something medical but didn’t know that optometry was a possibility. Once I learned more about it though, I knew it was the right path for me. Within optometry, I am particularly interested in the anterior segment and our urgent care patients. I like these encounters because even though it’s scary for the patient, there is a great opportunity to build a close bond between the doctor and the patient. Some of my favorite patients first came to me as urgent care patients. When you work with someone who faces the threat of losing their eyesight, you form a tight bond. With healthcare speeding up, our exams speed up as well, making these visits more impersonal. I have found that the patients who remember me best are those who needed some extra handholding. It also helps that I find the anterior segment fascinating. You’re pretty new to ICO, but we’d love to know, why were you excited to come to ICO? I was excited to come here because it was something different. Because of my background, I felt that I had a lot to offer clinically. I have worked in direct patient care for a long time. I look forward to being a strong resource for all students, but especially those interested in pursuing practice opportunities within hospitals and schools of medicine. How do you see optometry changing in the next few years and how do you hope to be a part of it? I define myself as an INTJ. One thing that is true about INTJs is that we always try to think about new and creative ways of solving old problems. Sometimes, our ideas are not always well received. Luckily the world is embracing innovation more and more every day. I believe there is room for innovation in optometry. Technology can aid health providers in terms of better patient care, safety, record keeping, efficiency, accuracy, and precision; but it will never replace the formal medical decision-making or interpersonal bond between doctor and patient. Because of this, hot topics in healthcare such as artificial intelligence and ophthalmic diagnostics don’t threaten my job security. They excite me. Dr. Harris in clinic with a student and in an exam with a patient. What are some of the things you hope to achieve while you’re at ICO? Where do you want to be in five years? Within the IEI, I’d like to be more involved with the urgent care clinic and in particular the Rosenbloom clinic. I’d especially like to work with the post-op patients who are referred to us after cataract surgery. I really enjoy those encounters. Beyond the clinic, I see myself more involved in campus affairs and in particular working with students and faculty from non-traditional backgrounds and under-represented minorities. There is so much work to be done to grow our optometric workforce so that it more closely resembles the real world. To respond to this problem, I’m drafting a curriculum for an innovative pipeline program. The plan is to attract underrepresented minority students interested in pursuing a career in a health profession. That means optometry, but also dentistry, pharmacy and maybe even podiatry. These professions share the same student diversity issues. Of course, my goal is to have more optometrists who look like me, but I’ve realized that this may not be the right path for everyone. As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats, and I think an increased interest in health professions will help optometry as well. We’ve already found an organization interested in partnering with us with over 200 students in their yearly cohort. Most of these students are first-generation college students and/or underrepresented minorities, but also very high performers. As seniors in high school, we will be engaging them at a crucial time. They can plan their undergraduate career around their future professional goals. Hopefully we can also get them involved with ICO by providing them with shadowing opportunities during the summer. Dr. Harris in clinic with a student. What message would you have for incoming students? The best advice I can give here is to have three types of people in your corner. Historically, we have always talked about the importance of a mentor. A mentor can show you the ropes, teach you things you don’t know, and allow you to shadow them. That is still the first person you need on your side today. Second, you need an ally, perhaps a classmate a few grades above you, or an optometry student at another school. This person should be someone close to you in age but who knows a bit more about the path you’re interested in pursuing. Then, you need a sponsor. That’s the person who talks about you positively behind your back. Someone who can bring your name up in a positive way when you’re not around, such as a faculty mentor or externship supervisor. We noticed that you’re quite involved on social media. Whether it's Instagram or LinkedIn, you have a very strong presence. Can you tell us how you hope to use this medium and how you hope to inspire incoming students and in particular students of color? On Instagram, you can make a five-second video and within minutes you have messages from students across the country. It’s phenomenal the speed that information travels on social media. I love that I can use it as an ancillary educational tool. My goal is to be as helpful as possible, and the feedback that I get from students really drives me to do more. When I first stepped foot on campus, students recognized me because of my social media profile. To them, my posts mattered. Especially rewarding are the direct interactions I’ve had with students. Many of these students were unsure where to go next, and now, they’re residents or working at their dream private practice. If you think about it, it’s only been a year since they first reached out for help. This just goes to show how much a year really matters. It’s also a sign that the art of mentoring is changing because of social media. Times are changing and institutions, optometrists, and other health care providers must harness social media as an important learning tool and not just entertainment. I’m just working on one little piece, but I know I am having an impact because of it. If you want to follow along and learn more about me, connect with me at @eyedoc_eharris.

What made you interested in heading research at ICO? Well, I chose quite a few paths before ending up at ICO. In China, I completed my MD specializing in ophthalmology. In America, I completed my PhD at UAB in Vision Science and Physiological Optics and my OD at NECO. Ultimately, this exposure helped me continue my quest for knowledge. For me it was always clear that I would combine clinical care with important research initiatives. I knew that whatever I did, it would have to involve research and more specifically clinical research. I have always wanted to find answers to the many questions I have. As I was going through optometry school, I found that often there was no clear answer as to why treatment A was superior to treatment B. I needed research to get those questions answered. I wanted to know what was best for the patients we treat. Dr. Pang seeing one of her myopia control research subjects. In this clinical trial they are trying to determine the effectiveness of low dose Atropos on myopia progression. What’s one thing that you would want people to know about your specific field? ICO has always had an incredibly strong clinical program, but our research reputation was not as strong when I arrived. The most important element, though, an amazing patient population, has always been there. I always knew I wanted to do clinical research, and I knew, to do that, I had to work with a diverse patient population. Our patients are fundamental to who ICO is, and we were able to expand our research because of our patients. When I arrived at ICO in 2005, we had never taken part in a NIH-funded clinical trial, now we’ve completed over 20. When I started my role to oversee research at ICO in 2009, there was almost no support for research. If I wanted to recruit a patient for a clinical trial, I called the patients/parents. I scheduled their visits. I collected the data. I finished related research paperwork. At that point, we didn’t have specific research accounts in our business affairs office, and we had no support staff. Luckily, our institution and ICO leadership have always supported my research. I have always felt that at ICO, they empower you to make important and necessary changes. So, I eventually got a part-time support person. Mary, Dr. Leonard Messner’s personal assistant, took on the job part time. It was a lot to take in, but she did a great job! I’m incredibly thankful for all the hard work she put in. Very quickly though, we realized we needed a full-time research coordinator to help us with all the many details. A little more than ten years later, we have more than 90 active studies, and a full-time research coordinator. Looking back at this now, it’s amazing to see just how robust our research has become. Faculty, residents, students – they all have opportunities to do research. Not only that, because of our patient population, we can focus on the specialties that interest them whether that’s glaucoma, cornea and contact lenses, or myopia control. How has ICO changed since you arrived at ICO? And what has remained the same? The biggest change for me is what we have accomplished in research. ICO is being recognized for its high-quality research. Research at ICO now touches every stage of your optometry career whether you are a faculty member, a resident, or a student. Last year alone, we doubled the number of research posters by students. Our students have received awards through many prestigious organizations, such as the American Public Health Association (APHA), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and American Academy of Optometry (AAO). We are competing against other optometry schools and larger public health schools, and even against these larger schools we can stand our ground; we’re still being recognized. What’s remained the same is the faculty commitment. I feel a strong dedication to ICO. That’s in large part because of the faculty and staff at ICO – they are just amazing. They are so committed to the clinic and their patients, and they’re always willing to step up when asked. Whenever I ask a faculty member to do something extra in research, I have never gotten a “no.” Research requires a lot of volunteer work, and everyone is willing to participate. They serve on research committees, mentor students, and lead journal clubs. Most of the research faculty members conduct at ICO is not something already set on their schedule, it’s an extra ask and it’s a lot of hard work. No one has ever said “no” to me. The commitment from our faculty amazes me daily. Third year, Lydie Tubene works with Dr. McLaughlin to evaluate new instruments that could help measure peripheral vision using virtual reality. Because of the tool's portability, this new device could also be used as a screening tool on community health screenings or mission trips. They are in the process of validating this new technology for accuracy. To you what is the most exciting thing about optometry? Like I said earlier, my first degree was actually an MD as an ophthalmologist, but when I arrived in America, I chose to pursue an OD specifically because of my interest in primary care. I wanted to build strong relationships with patients, and I felt that I could best do that as an optometrist. I also chose the profession because of how much it has developed over the last 100 years. 100 years ago, we couldn’t dilate eyes, and we couldn’t treat many diseases. Our practice at that time was very limited. Nearly every year since, our scope of practice has expanded. The future of optometry is so bright. There are so many things we can do. We have passion, and we care! The need for optometrists will not go away – an aging population means there will be a larger need for low-vision treatment, and the usage of devices has sky-rocketed. This is becoming a serious public health issue. So, for example, my specific area of interest, myopia control, has huge public health repercussions. Optometrists are leading the charge in increasing public health awareness of vision care. What’s one thing you would like incoming students to know about the field of optometry? Dream big and take steps toward your goal every day. Your future is bright. Also, if they want to consider going into academia, I want them to know there are so many ways you can make a huge impact. It's so great to be part of this strong intelligent community.

Join us for ICO's annual continuing education symposium on Sunday, March 13, 2022 starting at 9:00 am. All four hours are offered for only $100. Check out the day's schedule and be sure to register on our Continuing Education webpage! Sunday, March 13, 2022 9:00 AM SECTION I: Diagnosis and Monitoring Pathik Amin, OD; Ashley Speilburg, OD; Dominick Opitz, OD; Michael Chaglasian, OD 11:15 AM SECTION II: Treatment Options and Case Panel Discussion Max Medert, MD; Mary Qui, MD; Michael Chaglasian, OD; Pathik Amin, OD; Ashley Speilburg, OD; Dominick Opitz, OD ​ Full Day Bundle: $100 (for all 4 hours) For any questions related to continuing education, please contact Elizabeth Grantner, Director of CE, at egrantner@ico.edu. Click to our Continuing Education webpage to see the event schedule, pricing and registration information.

Join us for a virtual CE Program Sunday, February 20, 2022 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. For just $120 you can participate in 3 virtual presentations, or, pay a la carte for $50 per course. Check out the day's schedule and be sure to register on our Continuing Education webpage! 9:00 AM Dominick Opitz, OD – What?! I Have Herpes? (2 hours) COPE Approval pending 11:15 AM Yi Pang, OD – Myopia Control: Whom to target with myopia interventions (2 hours) COPE Approval pending 1:30 PM Kathryn Hohs, OD; Alaina Bandstra, OD – Pupil Anomalies: A Review (2 hours) COPE Approval pending 3:30 PM Program concludes For any questions related to continuing education, please contact Elizabeth Grantner, Director of CE, at egrantner@ico.edu. Click to our Continuing Education webpage to see the event schedule, pricing and registration information.

This honor recognizes students in the first and second professional year who have distinguished themselves by scoring 90% or higher on the pre-clinical skills assessment last quarter and scored no lower than 75% on all NBEO skills. Congratulations students! Class of 2025, (Fall '21) Alador Sisay Alyssa Petko Amanda Stadtlander Ariana Padilla Catherine Liu Chandler Wolfe Cindy Dupuis Courtney Carmain Crissy Lee Emily Chong Emily Lau Giovanni Gonzalez Grace Dille Joy Lin Julianna Babich Karli Clark Kiana Cheung Kianna Swanson Kiara Stevenson Kylie Donohue Lauren Disterhaft Lauren VanderReyden Leena Haidar Lena Luu Madison Huynh Madison Thurmond Marissa Garrels Marissa Spatz Nancy Garay Espinoza Paul DeLakis Priya Patel Rachel Lee Sajal Singla Sera Makil Svetlana Galkina Sydney McKnight Taylor Steger Vivian La Vlad Souboch Wendi Zhang Donna Bayat Fard Wendy Huang Xiao Jing Yalda Feiz Class of 2024 (Fall '21) Aleksandra Czyz Alison Ou Alyza Medina Amina Cheema Amna Vahidy Ananya Bhattacharya Andrew Dust Ani Tokhmakhian Arub Qureshi Ateet Gill Benjamin Verkuilen Claire Tashner David Lee Donna Li Elizabeth Kim Emily Strand Gurjivan Dhaliwal Jacob Schumacher Jasdip Mann Jennifer Lai Jiani Lin Katherine Simko Lauren Ng Liam Ferguson Mahek Firasta Manisha Parikh Megan Piraino Melanie Chiu Nicole Babicz Nicole Freeman Roselyn Thomas Sami Rivet Sandra John Shannon Carmo Smruti Mehta Tijana Markovic Vinamrta Saini

This honor recognizes students in the first and second professional year who have distinguished themselves by scoring 90% or higher in the Primary Optometric Practice pre-clinic skills assessment last quarter and scored no lower than 75% on all NBEO skills. Congratulations students! Class of 2024 – Summer ACP Assessment Edem Jongue Sarah Neidermann Gabriella Vivacqua Class of 2024 – Spring Quarter Assessment Nada Abdallah David Adeyeye Limu Ahmed Maliha Asadullah Nora Atallah Ananya Bhattacharya Lydia Bouman Melanie Chiu Aleksandra Czyz Cindy Dang Meaghan Devany Gurjivan Dhaliwal Nhung Dinh Hollie Doyle Mahek Firasta Nicole Freeman Jordyn Fregonese Ateet Gill Sydney Goldstein Karly Gruett Frankie Ho Ashleigh Johnson Edem Jongue Junmo Kwon Thy Le Christine Le Donna Li Jiani Lin Julia Maida Gregory Maliszewski Jasdip Mann Tijana Markovic Diana Masolak Colin McCambridge Alyza Medina Smruti Mehta Zammad Mohammad Zachary Nading Sarah Neidermann Lauren Ng Andrew Nguyen Alison Ou Ariana Padilla Priyanka Patel Dhruti Patel Ekta Patel Melisa Philogene Megan Piraino Anna Plant Arub Qureshi Rachel Ryan Abou Assaf Salma Prabhpal Sandhu Grace Sigler Tavleen Singh Petkana Staleva McKenzie Stewart Emily Strand Yu Sun Calvin Sun Claire Tashner Roselyn Thomas Reeham Tineh Gabriella Vivacqua Rebecca Williams

The following students achieved superior academic performance in the Summer 2021 quarter by earning a quarterly GPA of 3.50 or better and no grade below a B or H (honors) in all third- and fourth-year patient care courses: Class of 2021 Augustine, Alin Barrientos, Jose Martin Class of 2022 Abbott, Sarah Aguilar, Lauren Albin, Matthew Ali, Sarah Ali, Zahra Arianas, Demetra Askar, Zacharia Bade, Bjorn Bartczak, Tanner Beigel, Eric Bergman, Nicole Biniek, Alicja Blanco, Erin Briggs, Nathaniel Buinickas, Marissa Cardenas, Angelica Chang, Sarah Chramiec, Natalia Dagnall, Cody Dhanjal, Raveenal Frazier, Macy George, Kevin Gibbs, Kaitlin Gilbertson, Jena Gill, Alison Grewal, Randeep Gronewoller, Eryn Haider, Junaid Hanna, Nicole Heraiz, Claudia Holden, Payton Hong, Clara Huynh, Bobby Huynh, Tracey Imran, Summaya Iskander, Fadi Jochimsen, Jake Kaur, Gurkiran Kingra, Ramanjot Koss, Stephanie Kratzenberg, Lacey Krisa, Sydney Lamas, Larissa Langer, Weleed Large, Mackenzie Lee, Soo Jung Liu, Xiang Jun Meyer, Gunnar Mills, Shalynn Moody, Allie Morier-Roy, Maxime Moua, Chi Na Neher, Frederick Nguyen, Jacqueline Nguyen, Jenny Niziol, Paulina Patel, Himanee Patel, Kosha Payne, Erica Polk, Natalie Pratt, Christian Raziuddin, Sophia Reyes, Jordan Robbs, Connor Robison, William Schmicker, Cierra Schuchardt, Madeleine Sharma, Malika Sholl, Sadie Shpountova, Kristina Singh, Chereka Strupek, Cailyn Sun, Lirong Vivacqua, Lisa Vizza, Juliana Wadowska, Maria Wallace, Whitney Wawrzak, Lidia Wildt, Rylee Winkel, Savannah Wong, Christopher Yoon, Hyun Ju Zezelic, Angela Class of 2023 Abernathy, Alexis Al-Khazraji, Sayf Bainbridge, Chloe Bhatt, Vrunda Blackett, Kevin Grewal, Gurleen Jaitly, MansiJed linski, Lauren Jiang, Lai Junidi, Ryan Karra-Aly, Sarah Ko, Jennifer Lewis, EmikaI Marquez, Aitana McGowan, Ryan Mehta, Vidhita Meyette, Benjamin Mundra, Bobby Patel, Puja Patel, Riddhi Patel, Sumaya Peterson, Austin Prorok, Sylwia Purewal, Prabhdeep Rockne, Lucas Sargent, Steven Seider, Marissa Shackelford, Rachel Shah, Ria Sosalla, Brooke Struss, Morley Sutter, Emily Tank, Shivani Tjoe-A-Long, Faith Vu, Anh Dao Wong, Alexander Yang, Grace Yu, Sheng Nan

It's finally here! This week the future class of 2025 arrives on campus and will take the first step of this exciting 4-year journey. The years will fly by, life-long relationships will be made, and lives will be transformed in a very short time. We've collected a couple words of advice from our staff and faculty and a few things we think you should keep in mind before you start.