The newest Spiders — the Class of 2026 — stand out in many ways.

One student speaks five languages. Another student received a Boy Scouts of America Medal of Merit for saving a life in Alaska. Another climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

“Our students are incredibly accomplished,” said Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for Enrollment Management. “When reviewing applications, we consider everything we can learn about a student to understand better who they are, the choices they have made, and how they might impact our community. To be competitive for admission, students need both rigorous curriculum and top grades — but our entering students hit those marks, and even more.”

Many students have already completed advanced research. One student’s faculty-mentored research focused on Lyme disease while another developed models to determine how socioeconomic background may impact susceptibility to endometrial cancer.

Several students are entrepreneurs. One student created a business helping high school seniors celebrate Decision Day with college-themed cupcakes. Another created Puzzles for Patients, delivering custom puzzles to hospitalized children. And by selling bracelets, another new Spider raised $3.5 million for cancer research.

The Class of 2026 includes:

• 12% first-generation students.
• 26% students of color.
• Students from 38 states and the District of Columbia.
• 10% international students from 27 countries, including Albania, Canada, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Classes for all students began Monday.