Every fall on campus brings new faces from new places. These new students bring different talents, ideas, goals and personalities. The class of 2023 currently has 293 students ready to learn and be involved throughout campus.
The freshmen class not only represents most of the nation, but also countries worldwide. They are involved in diverse extracurricular activities, and are studying to get degrees in majors all across the board.
The majority of the class comes from the Midwest and states close by. However, a few students decided to come to a new country and buckle down in Iowa for their college years—there is one student each from the Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Germany and Austria.
Sixty-four percent of the students are athletes, and 17 percent are involved in the arts and music. Accounting, biology health professions and secondary education are the majors where the most freshmen enrolled, but students are also studying in the humanities such as art, religion, business, political science and theatre.
Natalie Wheeler is an admissions counselor for the college who works with students in Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and states on the East Coast as well as in the southeast to recruit future NW students.
For the freshmen class this year, she noticed students were looking for a place to grow in their academics and faith; they wanted a place where they had multiple opportunities to be involved and meet new people. Students were also focusing on how their degrees here could prepare them for the real world.
“As far as their thoughts for after college go, medical fields come to mind and so does missions,” Wheeler said.
Academics is a major part of college, but there’s more to college life than constant studying. There’s something for everyone to get involved in, even new freshmen.
Jadeyn Veltkamp is a freshman public relations major from Orange City. She decided to come to NW after seeing a promotional video by the college on her visit day.
“It got me—it just looked like so much fun,” Veltkamp said.
While on her tour, she also noticed the support and community of the campus as she saw people interacting with each other. In her years at NW, she hopes to get connected in different campus opportunities, and fill leadership positions she sees upperclassmen in.
“Doing leadership would be a really good thing to look back on,” Veltkamp said.
Camber Herrig is also in her first year. She came from Wall Lake to study writing and rhetoric; she liked the idea of going to a Christian college and decided on NW.
“I thought it would be good to be around others who love Jesus as much as I do and want to talk about it,” Herrig said.
Before she graduates, she has the goal of speaking in praise and worship for at least one night. As she goes through college, she also hopes to network for when she gets out of college and starts looking for a job.
Every member of this year’s freshmen class has goals, and are already contributing their gifts to the campus atmosphere. While they come from all different places, they’re excited to become a part of the NW community. Welcome to NW class of 2023!
