On the eve of the fall semester, Penn officially welcomed the Class of 2030 and incoming transfer students at its annual Convocation ceremony.
Hosted at Franklin Field on Monday, the hour-long event brought together students, faculty, and administrators for a University tradition dating back to 1894. It also marked Penn President Larry Jameson’s final Convocation before he steps down in June.
University Chaplain Rev. Charles Howard began the ceremony by reflecting on Penn’s move of Convocation from College Hall to Franklin Field. He compared the arrival of the incoming class to receiving a baton at the start of their collegiate journeys.
“May they remember that college is not some race to be won, but be collected along the way, nor is life,” Howard said, adding that students should “not view their activities simply as things to add to their resumes, but as vehicles to pursue their interests, their creativity, and most importantly, friendships.”
Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule encouraged the incoming class to embrace the limits they encounter at Penn as opportunities to explore new possibilities.
“I think it's the boundaries that inspire the expansion, because you will bump against the limits of what seems possible, and it's your curiosity and your energy that's going to push you past them,” she said.
During his remarks, Jameson encouraged the Class of 2030 to take intellectual risks and remain open to unfamiliar perspectives throughout their time at Penn.
“Explore bravely and experiment boldly,” Jameson said. “If the theory doesn’t pan out, learn what you can from it, and then try something else.”
He also mentioned Penn professor Emily Wilson’s translation of “The Odyssey,” which was recently adapted by Christopher Nolan into a blockbuster film.
“Like Odysseus, in the face of setbacks and challenges, you will persevere,” Jameson said. “You will have fantastic adventures. You will see and do wonderful things, and it will be epic. So Class of 2030, your Penn Odyssey begins now. Let’s get started.”
Provost John Jackson Jr. echoed Jameson’s call to engage with different perspectives while taking advantage of Penn’s interdisciplinary opportunities.
He urged students to “listen deeply, argue honestly, and recognize the humanity in people whose experiences and worldviews can sometimes differ quite profoundly from your own.”
“The more seemingly disparate the dots, the more surprising, the more transformative the connections you make will be,” Jackson said.
During the ceremony, audience members were able to view messages and photos displayed on a scoreboard behind the podium. Class of 2027 President and Wharton senior Steven Li presented the official class flag of the Class of 2030, followed by a performance of “The Red and Blue” by the Glee Club.
The ceremony was capped with a dessert reception on Franklin Field, where students socialized as they enjoyed a range of treats.
Senior reporter Ananya Karthik covers central administration and can be reached at karthik@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies communication and economics. Follow her on X @ananyaakarthik.
