On Sept. 20, 1057 students matriculated into the Class of 1998. The newest members of the Dartmouth community have impressive backgrounds and possess a wide array of unique talents.
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Karl Furstenberg described the freshman class as the statistically strongest and most diverse class the College has ever had.
Women comprise 48.2 percent of the class, the largest percentage of women ever to make up an entering class at Dartmouth. Two hundred fifty-five members of the Class of 1998 are minorities, and 41 foreign countries are represented.
The diverse student body has brought with it some extremely interesting and unusual talents.
One student is a member of the Norwegian army, another is a belly dancer, and yet another has patented his own invention.
Arvidas Remeza '98 has been a Lithuanian folk dancer for the past six years. Remeza said that "being Lithuanian, I thought it would be interesting to learn a part of my heritage. It is also a great expression of culture through waltzes, polkas, and other various dance steps."
Another member of the class of 1998, Corey Chatis, is a professional power-lifter. At her most recent competition, the Deadlift National, she won her division by lifting 253.5 pounds.
Roommates Shaun Peet '98 and David Whitworth '98 were both recruited for ice hockey after playing on a traveling Canadian team. They spent this past year living away from their homes in Canada, playing over 80 games per season. Peet said he enjoyed playing hockey "because of the rewards and self-satisfaction that I get out of simply playing the sport to win."
Jeffrey Blecher '98, from Vail, Colo., is a member of the National Ski team. Although National Collegiate Athletic Association rules prevent him from skiing for the Big Green this winter, he hopes to ski for Dartmouth if the opportunity arises. Blecher has been skiing since he was one-year-old and participated in his first competition at the age of six.
Dean of Freshmen Peter Goldsmith said he has "found all members of the class of 1998 that I have met extraordinary warm, outgoing, and eager to absorb all of the things that Dartmouth has to offer them."
