JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 24, 2002 — For the fifth year in a row, more than 400 outstanding 51社区 freshmen, including seven National Merit Finalists and 31 valedictorians and salutatorians will begin their college careers when they and their families descend on the campus for move-in day, Saturday, Aug. 24, and the kick-off to FOCUS, four days of action-filled college orientation.
Highlights of the first days for the freshmen include a special worship service at 7:30 p.m., Saturday evening, in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel, followed by the F.O.C.U.S. Show, led by freshman orientation counselors at 10 p.m. On Sunday, a FOCUS Festival on the East Lawn will offer music, games and giveaways from 2:30 鈥� 4:30 p.m. Classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 28.
Other statistics for the class of 2006 include a class ACT average of 24.3 and a high school GPA average of 3.5. Favorite majors for the incoming freshmen are natural sciences (13%), education (11%), social sciences (9%), business (9%), Christian studies (8%), nursing (6%), and music (5%.
With more than 29 states and 11 countries represented in this year's entering class, the top states include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.