Hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered for the annual President’s Welcome Aug. 20 near NDSU’s main gates to begin the fall semester.

President Dean L. Bresciani and Student Body President Luke Brodeur welcomed new students to NDSU and led them through the gates. The Welcome Week event is intended to greet new students and give them a chance to meet faculty, staff and students. The NDSU Gold Star Marching Band, Thundar, Cheer Team and Yell Leaders participated. 

Brodeur gave advice to incoming students, encouraging them to “take your future into your own hands.” He added, “I am tempted to say why NDSU is great, but I’ll leave that to you to find out for yourselves over the next four years.”

Bresciani noted NDSU’s accomplishments, ranging from its top 100 national research status, NCAA athletics success and its standing as a student-focused, land-grant, research university. He then introduced Sarah Hansen, the first student to be admitted for the fall semester. A marketing major from Village of Lakewood, Ill., Hansen said she visited NDSU and fell in love with the campus. “I knew I could succeed in whatever I do,” she said.

“When you find something you love, pursue it with all of the passion you can muster,” Brodeur said.

Classes began Monday, Aug. 20.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.