Class of 2009 shaping up to be Lehigh’s finest ever

On December 10, Lehigh University offered admission to 387 students under the Early Decision plan, meaning that 35 percent of the class has now been confirmed. Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Eric Kaplan indicated that this group of candidates represented “Lehigh’s largest and strongest early decision pool.” We will welcome students to Lehigh who fly across the country and across the ocean, students who come from America’s largest cities, and those who live within walking distance of campus. The group includes students who have mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, teachers, neighbors, coaches and mentors who are Lehigh graduates. Their academic passions range from the study of German to performing arts; from finance to chemical engineering and for some, a combination of several disciplines.
Many students indicated that they chose Lehigh for its outstanding academic opportunities, beautiful and welcoming campus, location, and because overall, it was the perfect fit for them.
Dean Kaplan indicated that the admissions staff enjoyed reading the applications of these students “because so many were compelling. They will bring vitality to this campus just as they have to their classrooms, the athletics playing fields, artistic performance spaces, community organizations and so many other places. Their presence at Lehigh next fall will be immediately apparent.”
Some of the notable accomplishments of this talented group include:
• A dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet and appeared in Columbia Pictures' “Center Stage.”
• A mechanically-inclined student who fully restored a 1976 Porsche sports car.
• A Maine state golf champion.
• An Outward Bound survivor who did her own solo in the woods for 24 hours as part of a two-month adventure program.
• A musician who will march in President Bush’s inauguration and at the Rose Bowl with his high school band.
• A budding actress who was just selected to play the lead, Helena, in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She will continue her love of theatre at Lehigh.
• A student who conducted an in-depth study of fortune tellers and reported her findings in an essay.
• A philanthropist who revived the “Make a Wish” chapter at her school and convinced the school to sponsor the wish of a child with cancer.
• A national mountain bike racer.
• A guitarist who started a band and recently recorded a CD.
• A student whose A.P. history paper was so outstanding that it was used as an example for other A.P. history classes throughout the country.
• An Eagle Scout who raised over $3,000 to improve traffic safety in his home town.
• A student who studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria.
• A volunteer at an international conference at the United Nations.
• An entrepreneur who makes her own handbags and sells them on E-bay.
• A student who did a cultural exchange in Japan.
With this extraordinary group of first-year students already in place, we are off to an excellent start with the class of 2009, and we look forward to inviting many more outstanding students to start their academic careers at Lehigh.