Lebanon Valley College Opens with Nearly 500 New Students

The Class of 2028 and new transfer students represent 14 states and three countries.

Annville, PA (08/29/2024) — The LVC community welcomed 446 first-year students and 46 transfer students (from 25 colleges and universities) to start the fall semester this week. The top programs of choice for the new cohort were the nationally recognized six-year Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (55) and the recently launched Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (44).

Four first-year students received full-tuition scholarships for their four undergraduate years through the College's Dr. John "Jack" Bowman Allwein '56 Scholarship, which also provides honorees with three $2,500 stipends during their time at LVC for research, travel, or study expenses associated with study abroad, internships, and/or collaborative research. Seven others were awarded $20,000 LVC Kaleidoscope Scholars, committing to participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.

At least three of the first-year students were featured in their hometown newspapers for extraordinary accomplishments and career goals: Zachary Schrader (Physical Therapy; perfect attendance for his entire academic career, K-12), Tegan Engle (Business administration; helped build a home with classmates to benefit their building trades class), and Kristi Griffiths (Communication Sciences & Disorders/Speech-Language Pathology; Cerebral Palsy advocate, Miss America Teen PA competitor, children's book author).

Finally, 54 first-year students were accepted into Lebanon Valley College's Honors Program, a living-learning experience for a select group of curious, passionate, and action-oriented students; five were high school valedictorians, and three were high school salutatorians.

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College, founded in 1866, offers 50 majors in the health professions, sciences, business and digital media, arts and humanities, and education. Hands-on learning, internships, and research are emphasized. LVC offers five direct-entry (bachelor's to master's) programs in Accounting/MBA 3+1, Athletic Training 3+2, Clinical Mental Health Counseling 3+2, Engineering 3+2, and Speech-Language Pathology 3+2, and a nationally recognized six-year Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. There are over a dozen graduate degrees, including an MBA and master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Education, Exercise Science, and Intelligence and Security Studies.

Close faculty-student relationships and mentoring are hallmarks of the LVC experience on its beautiful 370-acre campus. The College encourages student participation in athletics-with 40% competing as NCAA Division III student-athletes in the Middle Atlantic Conference-and student leadership and involvement in over 90 clubs and organizations, many of which are community-service focused. LVC offers generous financial aid and guaranteed merit scholarships that exceeded $52 million in 2023-24. Career success is integrated into the curriculum through the Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Career and Professional Development starting during the first year on campus.

Located eight miles from Hershey, Pennsylvania, this college of 1,600 undergraduate and 400+ graduate students produces alumni who attend prestigious graduate and professional schools and are employed by top companies and school districts.