Fireworks, festivities mark matriculation of Rice’s Class of 2022

An evening of fireworks and festivities marked the end of the first day of O-Week as the incoming Rice University Class of 2022 officially matriculated Aug. 13.

Following welcome speeches given by Rice President David Leebron, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, Student Association President Ariana Engels and Association of Rice Alumni President Michol Ecklund ’97, freshmen walked with their residential colleges to Lovett Hall and through the Sallyport — the traditional symbolic entrance into their new lives as Rice Owls.

“This moment marks a key point of change in all of your lives,” Gorman said from the stage at Tudor Fieldhouse, where she greeted the 966 incoming students assembled in tidy rows and attired for celebration.

“Some of you said goodbye to your family days or weeks ago and made the journey to Rice, while many of you said goodbye just a few hours ago,” Gorman continued. “As bittersweet as those moments may be, know that you now sit in a room among people who will be your friends, your mentors and your teachers for many years to come.”

Rice University President David Leebron entered Tudor Fieldhouse for matriculation followed by Student Association President Ariana Engles. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

Gorman introduced Leebron and University Representative Y. Ping Sun with a list of accomplishments since Leebron became Rice’s seventh president in 2004. Among the many achievements listed were the creation of the Vision for the Second Century, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and two residential colleges, McMurtry and Duncan. Wild applause from those colleges followed.

Leebron took time to wish a happy birthday to three freshmen — one at Baker, two at Sid Richardson — before delivering a nutshell version of his speech to prolonged cheers.

“We are thrilled and grateful you are here,” he said. “You should be thrilled and grateful to be here. Seize your opportunities, pursue your passions, get to know your classmates, don’t do stupid stuff and go change the world. Thank you and welcome to Rice.”

From the podium, Leebron further encouraged the Class of 2022 to engage in the kind of critical self-examination that motivates growth and inspires the drive toward greater depths of knowledge. “Why are you here?” he challenged the crowd. Or, as he “Yoda-ized” the question next: “You here why are?” The answers to that question, he said, may shift over time.

Association of Rice Alumni President Michol Ecklund addressed the crowd of incoming freshmen. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

“You must ask the question ‘Why you are here?’ often, not to create existential angst, but to think about how your experiences will change the reasons you are here,” he said.

Leebron cited Rice’s welcoming and inclusive community as being supportive of this line of questioning, a place in which learning about yourself is as prized as learning in classrooms or labs.

“Some of you come here with very clear ideas of what you want to do with your education, where you want to be in three, four, five or six years,” he said. “Others have no clue. Both are fine, with the caveat that you remain. But whatever your goals, what’s most important is seizing the opportunities you encounter along the way.”

Student Association President Ariana Engles, only the second SA president elected to office as a sophomore, shared her own experiences as inspiration for students to take risks and also shared some advice that’s served her well.

Incoming freshmen marched along with their residential colleges and magisters to the Sallyport. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

Though she knew since age 12 that she wanted to attend Rice, the Lovett junior never envisioned herself serving as SA president.

“I mentioned earlier that I never expected to be here before you today,” she said. “It was by having an open mind, trying new things and taking leaps of faith that I stand here before you.”

Engles also arrived convinced that she had to study chemistry. Several major changes later, she’s found her true passion as a double major in religion and kinesiology — which she wouldn’t have discovered without experimentation. “You are building your wings at Rice and you will get a chance to test them,” she said.

Ecklund wrapped up the matriculation speeches with a reminder that the Class of 2022 will be Rice alumni in a few short years. “I am proud to welcome you on behalf of the 55,000 Rice alumni around the world,” she said. “We are so proud that you chose to become Rice Owls with us.”

Passing through the Sallyport for matriculation is one of Rice’s oldest traditions. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

She encouraged the new students to take risks both social and academic, to take some classes for fun or invite a classmate for pizza. Get to know people of different backgrounds and value systems, Ecklund said, because these are the friendships that have the potential to change lives.

“It was 25 very short years ago today that my mom and dad dropped me off at Rice and I sat in my matriculation chair and was surrounded by a bunch of goofball 18-year-olds with whom I’d spend the next four years having Lovett loud nights and pulling epic jacks on the ‘Sidizens’ of Sid Rich College,” said Ecklund. “Together we got to pull down the goalposts when the Owls beat the Texas Longhorns and together we spent some all-nighters fueled by Mountain Dew and chocolate cake in the Mudd Lab.

“But little did I know 25 years ago,” she continued, “that I was also surrounded by a future congressman, nonprofit leaders that would stretch the globe from South Africa to our own backyard at the Houston Endowment, published authors, future NFL stars and the No. 1 draft pick in the Major League Baseball draft, a White House press secretary, the grand marshal of Houston’s Gay Pride Parade, educators, lawyers and life-saving doctors, including the one that happened to be on call the night I was rushed to the hospital for an emergency procedure during my pregnancy.”

Members of the Rice women’s volleyball team greeted their newest members with hugs and posters. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

Ecklund concluded the evening’s formal remarks: “You sit here tonight surrounded by your new Rice family and we welcome you into ours.”

Students then exited Tudor Fieldhouse and walked along a candlelit Inner Loop toward the Sallyport, the arched passageway at Lovett Hall that leads into the Academic Quad. As each college approached the entryway, the crowd waiting on the other side fell completely silent, the better to hear the loud litany of screams and cheers for the new students as they passed through. Overhead, a dazzling display of fireworks exploded in the sky.

According to Rice tradition, students should not pass back through the Sallyport in the direction of Founder’s Court until their day of graduation — otherwise, they won’t graduate on time. It’s the first of many traditions these new Owls will learn during O-Week.

Fireworks greeted each residential college’s new class of students as they walked through the Sallyport. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

Baker College freshmen Victoria Saeki-Serna and Maggie Yuan joined up behind the Baker banner as they left the Academic Quad.

“It totally felt like we were a part of the Rice community and I was super surprised by the fireworks,” said Saeki-Serna.

“I have to say the same,” said Yuan. “It was really cool to see how the fireworks were different colors for each college.”

Hanzsen freshman Jarrett Prchal was equally wowed by the entire evening and his first O-Week experience.

“It felt really amazing to be welcomed by so many people with so much enthusiasm,” he said as he walked back to his new college with his fellow Hanzsenites. “I wasn’t expecting that.”