Meredith College is set to welcome one of its largest ever freshmen classes on August 18, 2007, which is Move-In Day for the Class of 2011.

As of August 7, Meredith has received deposits from more than 460 freshmen.

Director of Admissions Heidi Lippmeier Fletcher said Meredith is “on track to meet or break last year’s record number of 454 freshmen.”

Meredith’s freshmen class has steadily increased since 2003, when the College had 332 freshmen.

Meredith’s newest students hail from 14 states, including Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and California. Meredith will welcome international students from five countries—Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

The incoming class will also reflect the College’s continued efforts to increase diversity, with an estimated minority representation of nearly 22 percent.

The Class of 2011 is certain to break one Meredith record. The class will include 35 new members of Meredith’s Honors Program, the most in Meredith’s history.

These include the College’s first two recipients of the Alumnae Legacy Scholarship, Meredith’s first full academic scholarship, and three new presidential scholars. Meredith also expects to have 25 new Teaching Fellows.

Alumnae Legacy Scholars
Erin Huber, of Whispering Pines, N.C., and Sarah Beth Phelps, of Morehead City, N.C., are the first recipients of Meredith’s Alumnae Legacy Scholarship.

Huber was a member of the National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, debate team and art editor of her high school’s literary magazine. She plans to major in international studies, with a possible double major in theatre. Phelps served as the vice president of her school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, and has been active in Beta Club, SADD, the Science Olympiad and the varsity track team. She plans to major in international studies, with a possible double major in English.

Presidential Scholars
Meredith’s three new presidential scholarship recipients are Hannah Allen, of Apex, N.C., Caitlin Griffin, of Raleigh, N.C., and Chelsea Stith, of Pittsboro, N.C.

Allen has been involved in Habitat for Humanity and Carolina Youth Ballet. She is considering an arts-related major.

Griffin has been a member of the National Honor Society, her school’s show choir, the Varsity Lacrosse team and a freshman mentor. She plans to major in psychology.

Stith has served as the artistic director of Emmanuel Dance Company and is an accomplished pianist. She is also involved in a Streamwatch group and has participated in the Environmental Olympics. She plans to major in music education or exercise and sports science.

Initiative to Educate Afghan Women
The Class of 2011 will also include Sweeta Hashimi, who is the second student to attend Meredith through the College’s partnership with the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women. Hashimi plans to major in business administration at Meredith.

Meredith is one of 15 colleges and universities in the U.S. to participate in this scholarship program and transcontinental partnership between the people of the United States and Afghanistan.

For information on Move-In Day and orientation for the Class of 2011,
click here. (link to http://www.meredith.edu/mcnews/orientation07.htm)