Advertisement

Local students help Transylvania set largest enrollment in the school's history

November 03, 2005

Transylvania's campus is bustling with a record enrollment of 1,151 students, breaking the previous record of 1,134 set in 2003.

"As we celebrate our 225th anniversary, we are delighted that our enrollment success continues," said President Charles L. Shearer. "Interest in Transylvania among academically talented students has steadily increased over the past two decades," he said.

Transylvania's enrollment has been at capacity for the past several years.

The entering class of 344 includes 18 transfer students and a record number of Kentucky Governor's Scholars-55 as compared with 36 in 2004. The class includes five national Merit Finalists and five Governor's School for the Arts participants.

"We are known for our high-quality academic programs, attention to personal and professional development, and exemplary placement rates to the nation's top graduate and professional schools," said Sarah Coen, director of admissions. "Our applicant pool increases each year and that has allowed us to be more selective in shaping the entering class," she said.

Advertisement

Seventeen residents of Jessamine County attend Transylvania University. They include: freshman Loren Bewley; freshman Melinda Braun; sophomore Matthew Burton; freshman Matthew Eckhardt; senior Zackary Edens; sophomore Benjamin Hager; senior Thompson Haggin; sophomore Timothy Hamby; sophomore Amanda Heltzel; freshman Amanda Higginbotham; freshman Megan Higginbotham; junior Ashley Horn; junior Caitlin McGuire; freshman Joshua Morris; sophomore Betsey Pigg; freshman David Potter; and junior Joseph Searle.

New class members come from 17 states and represent nearly every Kentucky county. In addition to being academically talented, 20 percent of the incoming students will play a varsity sport. The class includes two sets of twins, a Golden Gloves boxing champion and an international competitor in ballroom dancing.

The record enrollment is attributed to high retention rate of returning students combined with a near-record enrollment of new students.

Transylvania's overall enrollment includes six visiting students - all from Kentucky - who were displaced from Tulane and Loyola universities in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. "We felt that as an educational institution it was imperative to reach out to these students in their time of need," said Shearer.|11/3/05|***

Central Kentucky News Articles
|
|
|