Welcome, Record-Breaking Class of 2025
First-year students Riley Chojnacki (center) and Anjali Khellawan (right) participate in the Rise Against Hunger service project during the Class of 2025 orientation.
The Class of 2025 has officially arrived on campus, and with 513 students, it’s the largest in DSU history.
To kick off the Class of 2025's University experience, the orientation team chose the exciting theme, “Lights. Character. Action.” They separated first-year students into eight pods distinguished by movie genres ranging from superhero to fantasy to action-adventure. Sporting vibrant T-shirts and fun accessories–think Minnie Mouse ears, western hats, and billowing capes–the pods’ energetic student mentors guided first-year students through activities, introducing them to the captivating spirit of DSU.
By participating in the annual first-year orientation service project, students experienced first-hand the core values of Salesian spirituality: gentleness, hospitality, gratitude, humility, and wisdom. In less than three hours, the Class of 2025 packaged more than 30,000 meals to benefit Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit organization providing hunger relief through a global network of volunteers and partners. In doing so, students learned the importance of empowering others so that everyone can be who they are and be that well.
“Service is a good way to be a part of the (DSU) community and give back,” says Therese Anne Bajo ’25, a nursing major. Kyle Schenkel ’25, an exploratory studies major, agreed adding, “(Service) is not something you do for a resume but because you want to do it.”
Other orientation activities included friendly competitions between pods, casino night, presentations by renowned speakers C.L. Lindsay and Bobby Petrocelli, and much more. Regarding the festivities, Zachary Marshal ’25, a management major, says, “It’s a fun time to make connections and do activities you’d normally only get to do with people in the same club.”
Congratulations to pod 2 for taking home the coveted Dog Bowl trophy for the most points earned during pod challenges.