Meet the Class of 2030: A Remarkable New Generation of Paladins

On Thursday the boxes will arrive. The residence halls will fill. Parents will make those last trips up the stairs, roommates will meet for the first time and 705 new Paladins will officially begin their Furman journeys.

The Class of 2030 is one of the largest classes to arrive at Furman in five years — and it brings an extraordinary range of experiences, talents and ambitions to campus.

Students walk through campus on a fall day on Friday, November 22, 2024. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

These newest Paladins come from 37 states and 38 countries, with more than half arriving from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. They’ve excelled in the classroom, too, entering Furman with an average 3.68 unweighted core GPA. Fifteen graduated as valedictorians, six as salutatorians and 141 finished in the top 10% of their high school classes.

But the numbers only begin to tell the story.

“We have loved getting to know these students throughout the admissions process and now it’s time for the Furman community to welcome these great students home,” said Melissa Cline, associate vice president for Enrollment Management & Success.

The Class of 2030 includes 168 sports team captains, 138 student organization leaders, 13 student body presidents and 214 students with significant community service experience. More than 200 are National Honor Society members, 182 competed in two varsity sports, and 106 founded a club or organization.

And their interests reach well beyond traditional measures of achievement.

These students have conducted sea turtle research, studied geothermal fields and environmental change in Iceland, launched businesses, created podcasts, developed innovative technology and pursued sustainable farming initiatives around the world. There are competitive athletes, musicians, artists, actors, researchers, entrepreneurs and community advocates.

One student is a three-time state golf champion. Another competed on the USA development sailing team. One founded a podcast focused on wildlife protection and biodiversity. Another student created directional audio headphones designed to improve safety for people with visual impairments. And another developed a low-cost air purifier using homemade activated charcoal.

These are students who have already demonstrated a willingness to lead, create, serve and explore. Now they get to bring that same energy to Furman.

“These students have demonstrated tremendous academic prowess, commitment to their communities and an eagerness to quickly get connected within the Furman community,” Cline said.

Soon, all of that potential will converge on campus. New friendships will begin, new ideas will take shape and 715 students who have already accomplished remarkable things will take the next step in their stories.

The Class of 2030 is ready.

And Furman is ready to welcome them.