Meet Me at The Avenue Event Welcomes Class of 2027

On March 26, 273 high school seniors and their families gathered on campus for the annual Meet Me at The Avenue event hosted by the College. With more than 800 visitors, this makes this year’s “Meet Me” one of the largest attended in recent years. 

For almost 30 years, admitted student day—known now as Meet Me at The Avenue—has been one of the most anticipated events of the admission process. High school students often visit campus throughout the year for tours and preview days, but Meet Me is the season's premier experience. At this event, everyone has been extended an offer to join the Saint Mary’s family. “At Meet Me at The Avenue, we celebrate from start to finish the excellence of the next class of Belles,” said Sarah Gallagher Dvorak '99, director of Admission. “While the event is big in numbers, it feels personal and special. They leave feeling like they are seen as a young woman with a mind and a heart.” During the all-day event, admitted students and their families received a glimpse into life as a Saint Mary’s student before they officially move to campus in less than five months.

Following a Presidential Scholars Breakfast where a select group of students were honored for their exceptional work during high school, all attendees gathered in O’Laughlin Auditorium where each student was welcomed by President Katie Conboy, and given a special gift—a French Cross bracelet. The bracelet is more than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it signifies the bond between the incoming class and the lifelong sisterhood they are entering.

Soon after, the students took part in a scavenger hunt around campus where special bonds began to form. Dvorak expressed the importance of separating the students from their parents during this time, explaining the students start to meet their college friends and potential roommates from these activities.

While the students were on their hunt, family members attended panels from campus resources, faculty members, and financial aid.

Once families were reunited, they had what Dvorak described as a “choose your own adventure” time. Visitors had the option to eat lunch at the Noble Family Dining Hall or cafes, attend Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, tour campus, learn about the study abroad and other programs, including one specifically designed for first-generation students.

Robbie Ross ’23 still remembers her Meet Me experience as one that shaped her final decision to attend Saint Mary’s. “I made so many friends that day,” said Ross. “Everyone was so welcoming and I always knew I wanted to be a Belle, but after my experience at Meet Me, I knew Saint Mary’s was exactly where I saw myself for the next four years.”

Four years later, Ross is now an admission ambassador for the College, working her last Meet Me at The Avenue. She was thrilled to be able to share the same love and energy for Saint Mary’s that she received during her own experience. “I hope that Meet Me helps students discover a sense of belonging and can guide their college decision journey. But most importantly, I want students to take away the beauty and the benefits of attending an all women's liberal arts college, and what it means to be a Saint Mary’s Belle,” said Ross. 

March 27, 2023