This message was distributed via email to all Lafayette students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents.
Dear Lafayette Community,
As we head into this holiday week, I write to wish you a special time with family and friends and to share some exciting news with you.
First, I want to express our thanks to you. Last week, our Lafayette community broke the record for the most ever contributed to the Bring the Roar fundraising challenge. Our donors gave $906,904 to the annual fund and programs across campus, including more than $400,000 for athletics and nearly $500,000 for academics and other aspects of the student experience. These gifts came from across the College—students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends, all contributing through this extraordinary community effort to make Lafayette even stronger. THANK YOU.
We also celebrate our football student-athletes, Head Coach John Troxell ’94 and his staff, Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman and her team, and all those who support the program on earning Lafayette’s first football Patriot League championship since 2013–plus the program’s 700th victory, the most team wins in 40 years, a top 25 ranking, and a berth in the NCAA Playoffs (this Saturday, November 25). This success brings tremendous pride to College Hill and Easton, and wonderful positive attention to the excellence of this College and an athletics program that also happens to own the sixth-best graduation success rate in NCAA Division I. This weekend showed again the power of academics and athletics, campus and community.
Meanwhile, the number of applicants to the College through the early decision process exceeded all previous classes, a promising sign as the admissions process continues. Our admissions team is working hard to bring in a wonderful class of 2028, and we appreciate all the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents who help support this effort.
Now, we are delighted to share this announcement: For the first time in our history, the College has been selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host the 2024 vice presidential debate. We look forward to hosting this tradition in American politics next September 25. We will work with our faculty and staff to capitalize in every possible way on this event and facilitate programming that engages our students and community in exploring and discussing our democracy and its future.
As we begin this week of gratitude, my family and I extend our best wishes to you and yours.
Go Leopards, and On Lafayette!
President Nicole Hurd