Class of 2011 features high achievement, diversity

RELEASED: August 30, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—On August 23, the 316 freshmen who make up the Class of 2011 were welcomed to campus by Centre’s move-in crew: a volunteer group of resident assistants, orientation assistants, faculty, staff and President John Roush and his wife Susie. As was the case with last year's Class of 2010, the Class of 2011 is consistent with the high academic profile Centre traditionally maintains.

Out-of-state students make up 44 percent of the freshman class, with minority and international students representing 11 percent of the total. The strongest gains in out-of-state enrollment were in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia and Texas.

Academically, 58 percent of students were in the top-10 percent of their high school class, with an average ACT score of 28 and an average SAT score of 1260 (critical reading plus math). These high averages are on par with Centre's numbers over the past 10 years and represent the strongest new-student profile of any Kentucky college or university.

The class is 53 percent female and 47 percent male, and 28 states are represented. Additionally, the class of 2011 includes the second group of students coming to Centre in partnership with the Posse Foundation. Posse recruits and trains youth leaders from urban public high schools and sends these groups as "posses" to top colleges and universities nationwide (click here for more about the Posse Foundation).

Members of the class of 2011 were extremely involved in extracurricular activities in high school, including participation in student government, Beta Club, yearbook, newspaper and varsity sports. The class is also a talented group and includes a ballroom dancing champion, a French horn player, an Irish dancer, an extra in the movie "We Are Marshall," and a Ms. Teen Kentucky International 2006.

Classes began for all students on Monday.

Click here for move-in photos.

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.