“You are surrounded by wonderful folks with incredible, God-given talents,” said Steve Soba, Vice President for Enrollment Management, as he addressed a crowd of freshmen students at DeGol Field on Aug. 22.
The University welcomed 400 new students to Loretto late last month. The Class of 2028 includes students from 246 different high schools, 22 states and 10 countries.
Twenty members of the freshmen class hail from other countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, India, Portugal and Spain).
There is also a strong local presence in the incoming class, with 107 students arriving at SFU after graduating from high schools in Cambria and Blair counties.
Among the new students is freshman Angelo Lobsinger from Southern Pines, North Carolina. Lobsinger is majoring in Physician Assistant Sciences.
“I am most looking forward to learning how to be an independent, young adult and continuing my running career as a Division I collegiate athlete,” said Lobsinger.
Another member of the Class of 2028, Amy Jacobs, is also a first-year student in the PA Program. She comes to Loretto from Severna Park, Maryland.
“My first weeks at SFU have been fun,” said Jacobs. “From comparing dining options to spending all my money at bingo, it has been a time of memorable encounters.”
From managing her time to balancing her schedule and maintaining healthy habits, Jacobs said her first few weeks of her college experience have been a time of self-growth.
“As challenges come, it is nice to know that I have a supportive and encouraging community at SFU.”
According to Soba, the Class of 2028 brings diverse experiences and a commitment to service to Saint Francis.
Many of the freshmen have been involved with organizations they connected with through their high schools and communities. These include the National Rural and Small-Town Recognition Program, the Outstanding Young Woman Program, the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Team, Future Business Leaders of America and nonprofit organizations that provide resources to homeless and low-income children.
Lobsinger participated in the National Honor Society and was a member of his cross country and track and field teams at Pinecrest High School in North Carolina.
Jacobs was also involved in cross country and track and field, in addition to peer ministry, orchestra and pit band during her four years at Mount de Sales Academy in Maryland.
She is excited about the unexpected as she takes the next steps in her academic journey.
“Although I may follow a strict paradigm of classes to reach my degree, there is so much that is unknown,” Jacobs said.
“Will I discover an unexpected talent or interest? What will I get involved in? Will I enjoy my program? All these questions go through my head.
“The experiences, events and classes at SFU all help me to ‘become that someone.’ I can’t wait to see who that someone is.”
