Hood College to Welcome 372 New Students During Move-In and Orientation Weekend

Hood College will say “Hello!” to 372 new Blazers this weekend as the class of 2029 and incoming transfer students move-in on Thursday, August 14 beginning at 7 a.m.

Following Move-In, students will begin their first day of new student orientation, which introduces students to life at Hood and the surrounding Frederick community. As part of Orientation, students will receive their traditional “Dink” headwear and formally begin the new academic year at the College’s annual Convocation Ceremony.

The Incoming Class

The incoming class hails from 18 different states as well as Washington D.C., and two different countries. The class includes 20 students with ties to Hood, either via an alumnus relative or a family member currently working at the College. Three incoming students have been selected for Chair of the Board Scholarships, a highly prestigious scholarship that provides full-tuition awards to the most academically exceptional students in a given class. 

The class of 2029 also includes 58 first-year and five transfer students whom are invited to the Hood Honors Program, a selective program for outstanding students across all majors which includes on- and off-campus learning opportunities.

The most popular majors among the incoming first year and transfer students include nursing, business, psychology, computer science and biology.

Notable Move-In Weekend Events

Dinking Ceremony, Hodson Outdoor Theatre
Saturday, Aug. 16 at 4 p.m.

Each year, new Hood students are “dinked” by current students, a process in which current students place a piece of headwear, called a “dink” on the heads of new students, signifying entry to the current cohort. The dink is unique to Hood and is to be worn at special Hood occasions such as Commencement and Baccalaureate. Dinks come in four colors, each unique to a class in the current cohort. The class of 2029 will wear the red dink.

The class of 2029 will receive their dinks during the annual Dinking Ceremony held on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Hodson Outdoor Theatre. 

Convocation, Coffman Chapel
Saturday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.

Convocation is held annually to celebrate and formally commence the opening of the academic year. Students from all classes are invited to wear their traditional dinks and participate in the ceremony. Speakers at the ceremony include Vice President for Enrollment Management Colby McCarthy, Hood College President Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., Interim Provost Paige Eager, Ph.D., and the President of the Hood College Student Government Association.

Convocation will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. in the Coffman Chapel immediately following the Dinking Ceremony.

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