THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (AB) welcomed 190 freshmen this year—72 students more than last academic year—during the annual Thomasian Welcome Walk held Friday.
AB welcomed two sections of Communication Arts freshmen, and one section each of first year Political Science, Journalism, and Legal Management students.UST welcomed a total of 6,435 Thomasians, with almost 4,000 students coming from the Grade 11 of Senior High School, data from the Office of the Registrar showed.
UST Rector Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. encouraged the more than 2,000 new college students to find Jesus in their lives as Thomasians.
“UST is a Catholic University. So as you form your minds, you also aim to transform your hearts. At the heart of Catholic education is Jesus Christ, and everything we do here leads to an encounter with Jesus Christ,” Dagohoy said during the Eucharistic Celebration.
Passing through the Arch of the Centuries marks a “passing of the torch,” he added.
“My dear Thomasians, you are here not only to commence your academic sojourn but you are also about to begin another journey of faith,” the rector said. “You are standing on the ground where thousands of Thomasians witnessed history [unfolds] before their eyes.”
Journalism freshman Lorenzo Arroyo said he felt truly welcomed in the University when he entered the Arch of the Centuries. “Sobra ‘yung hype to the point na parang takot ka talagang lumabas kasi gusto mo, dito ka lang talaga sa UST.”
Started in 2002, the rite of passage of freshmen through the Arch of the Centuries marks the start of their journey as students in the University. F – ALI IAN MARCELINO V. BIONG AND CRIS EUGENE GIANAN with reports from MARIA EDEN T. DINO
