Members of the Temple community officially welcomed students from the class of 2017 to the university at the annual Convocation ceremony, held Friday, August 23, in the Liacouras Center.

The event capped a full week of opening events celebrating the arrival of the new class of undergraduates, freshmen and transfer students. Temple President Neil D. Theobald offered opening remarks, welcoming new students on behalf of faculty, staff and alumni.

"For months now, you've been telling family and friends that you're going to Temple," said Theobald. "When you walked into the building that all changed. Temple is no longer where you are going — you have arrived. And your arrival is greatly anticipated."

Theobald noted that the class represents one of the largest, most academically distinguished and multiculturally diverse classes in Temple history, with students ranging in age from 16 to 64 and hailing from 53 Pennsylvania counties, 43 states and 56 countries on six continents.

Temple Provost Hai-Lung Dai, Faculty Senate President Mark Rahdert, international student representative Polina Morilova, student body president Darin Bartholomew and Alumni Association President-Elect Scott Cooper also welcome the new class as they begin their academic journey.

President Theobald quoted the Greek poet Homer, telling students their decision to pursue higher education represented a centuries-old rite of passage to "leave home and win your own renown in the world" under the mentorship of Temple's distinguished faculty.

"I congratulate each member of the class of 2017 on your choice to become Temple Owls," said Theobald. "You could not have made a better choice."