Ohio State welcomes new first-year students at Convocation

Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. led the celebration Monday to welcome a new class of students to the university.

Convocation is held at the Schottenstein Center before the first day of classes each year and is the official welcome ceremony for new students. It’s the one time before graduation when the class of 2029 is called together as a group.

“This is that moment when you see your future, your life. It starts right here,” Carter said. “Everything you will do for the rest of your life will start and be shaped by what’s happening right here today. Class is starting tomorrow. There are friends that you will make that will change your life forever.”

University leaders joined Carter to help familiarize the students with some of the history and traditions of Ohio State. He introduced head football coach Ryan Day, who encouraged the students to be great fans.

Day will lead the defending national champions into Ohio Stadium to face the Texas Longhorns on Saturday in a matchup of the two top-rated teams in the country.

“We need you to be great fans. Because we need everybody to reach our goals,” Day said. “The students are a big part of it. … If you’re in the stadium, you gotta be loud, right when the foot hits the ball at kickoff.”

Senior Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers introduced the students to the university’s school song: “Carmen, Ohio.”

“It reminds us of the joy and privilege of being here to learn and grow as a member of this community,” she said.

The convocation ceremony also introduced students to the city. Mayor Andrew Ginther entered the arena on a COTA bus to highlight the benefits of living in Columbus.

Mascots from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Crew and Clippers helped energize the crowd. Some students won gift cards or discounts to popular campus-area restaurants.

Students also received a token of what is to come. Alumni Association President and CEO Molly Ranz Calhoun shared that each student received a Block O pin to celebrate the community of alumni they will join in four years.

“It may look simple, but it represents so much. It represents a connection to a family of more than 630,000 living Buckeye alumni,” she said. “It represents tradition and 155 years of excellence at The Ohio State University. And it represents pride.”