Knox College Welcomes Record-Setting Class of 2028

Knox College officially welcomed more than 400 new students to campus, its third-largest class of new students in its history, on Tuesday, September 3. This historic group hails from 33 states and 30 countries, reflecting the College’s strong national and international reputation.

The Board of Trustees endorsed a plan for bold and ambitious growth in October of 2022 that included significant investments to all aspects of College operations. This included investments to grow the student population to an optimal size that will allow Knox to provide the best experience for every student. 

"The Board's commitment to invest in our College is driven by our shared vision for success. We all know the unique and lifelong value a Knox education provides and want to ensure that experience is available for future generations of students," President C. Andrew McGadney said. 

"A year ago, we set out lofty goals for growth for this recruitment cycle and despite it being the most challenging year of our careers, we over-performed on all fronts,” Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions Nathan Ament said. Ament also pointed out that Knox was one of the few institutions among its peer colleges to see significant enrollment growth this year, calling it a “testament to the investment and support of the Board and the President, and the hard work of our entire team as we modernized quite literally our entire operation.”

This fall’s entering students also set the record for the largest group of international students in Knox’s history and one of the largest classes of transfer students to join the Knox community. International students make up 37% of the Class of 2028, while 29% of domestic students are students of color, and 25% are athletes. Among the transfer students, 18% are international, 21% are athletes, and 26% are students of color. Notably, 72% of transfer students come from two-year institutions, demonstrating Knox’s strong connections and partnerships with regional community colleges.

“I like being on campus, the people here are friendly,” Muhammad Shayan Munir ’28, a first-year student from Pakistan, shared. “It already feels like home. It’s good to see so many international students. I like being able to learn parts of their culture.” 

“I’m looking forward to meeting some new people and getting this school year going,” Jacob Halseth ’28, a first-year student from California, added. “I plan to play baseball and my coaches and teammates are all great. I’m excited to be a part of this huge class.”

The Class of 2028 arrived in multiple waves to begin New Student Orientation, with fall athletes arriving on August 15 and 16, international students on September 1, and the remainder of the new students on September 3. Students were greeted by College staff, orientation leaders, and Prairie Fire athletes, who assisted them and their families move into residence halls and navigate their first day on campus.

“It’s my first time as an orientation leader,” Sania Shetty ’26 said. “I watched my friends help welcome new students last year, and I wanted to be a part of that. It’s fun to watch them come to Knox and see them experience their new home.” 

Many first-year students were welcomed to newly renovated residence halls, meeting suitemates for the first time and working alongside their families to unpack their belongings. 

“I’m bubbling over with excitement,” Sam Hoffman, father of Max Hoffman ’28, said as he helped his son navigate New Student Orientation. “I’m so proud he’s here at Knox. We did the first visit together, and now we’re here for this big milestone. Max has worked so hard for this, and I know these next four years will go by in a blink.”

Later, on the South Lawn of Old Main, students and their families gathered for the official Welcome to Knox event, featuring speakers President C. Andrew McGadney, Provost and Dean of the College Michael Schneider, and Vice President for Student Development MarQuita Barker. Each delivered inspiring messages and outlined goals for the academic year. 

“What you need to know here today is that this is a warm community,” President McGadney added. “You are joining the Knox College family.”

Students shared goodbyes with their parents and loved ones before setting off for their first night at Knox. The day concluded with students gathering in the Knosher Bowl, home to the Prairie Fire football team, for PlayFair, an annual event that allowed students to meet one another through a series of activities aimed at socializing. 

New Student Orientation will continue over the remainder of the week, allowing students to meet faculty and staff, share time with over 400 new classmates, and learn about their new home in Galesburg. Classes begin September 9, with  Opening Convocation taking place at 11:00 a.m. on South Lawn.