Welcome Home Class of 2027!

Starting with an enthusiastic Move-In Day on Saturday, Sept. 2, St. John Fisher University welcomed more than 600 new first-year students to campus, among the largest incoming classes in Fisher history.

On Saturday, among the bedding, bookshelves, and bins of clothing, parents like Patricia Specht offered a few words of advice to their students.

“I’m looking forward to him having a lot of fun, making new friends, and getting geared up for life,” she said. “Study hard, but have fun.”

For his part, Dylan Specht was equally excited.

“I’m hoping to get good grades, work out a lot, and be in the wrestling room a lot,” he said, adding that he plans to be a pre-law major while balancing life as a Division III student-athlete on the wrestling team.

Zoey Panton, a native of Jamaica, Queens by way of Jamaica (the Island), is already familiar with campus. She spent five weeks at Fisher over the summer through the Higher Education Opportunity Program.

“Everyone is so nice and so helpful, and I feel very welcome,” Panton said.

She plans to major in psychology and pre-health. Her mother, Denise Doyley, said Fisher felt like a family and she’s excited for Zoey to achieve her goals. Her advice for Zoey?

“Keep her head high, the sky is the limit,” she said. “I’m so proud of her.”

Members of the Class of 2027 come from 15 different states, Puerto Rico, and Ontario, Canada. Home for some include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia. About 87 percent of the class will reside on campus. Nursing, biology, finance, sport management, psychology, and marketing/management are among the majors with the most interest from first-year students.

During Move-In Day, President Gerard J. Rooney, and his wife, Susan, met families as they waited in line to drop off their belongings at Ward-Haffey Residence Hall, and greeted students at Murphy Residence Hall. Families enjoyed a grab-and-go lunch and ice cream dessert before saying their final goodbyes.

The Class of 2027 then officially began Orientation, which included a host of campus information sessions, ice breakers, activities, and a festival featuring food trucks and a live band.

Orientation ended on Tuesday as all incoming students attended the Matriculation Ceremony, which marks the formal start of their academic journey at Fisher. The ceremony featured remarks from President Rooney; Dr. Kevin Railey, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Fr. Kevin Mannara, director of the Office of Campus Ministry; Dr. Todd Sodano, associate professor of media and communication and chair of Faculty Assembly; Brooke Chase, recipient of the 2023 First-Year Student of the Year Award; and Jenna Vinoya, president of the Student Government Association.

Vinoya, a senior studying public health and data analytics, offered her advice to the class.

“You are the future of Fisher, and we have a lot to learn from you,” she said. “Remember to take care of yourself and take care of others. Get involved, have fun, and embrace the excitement and nerves that you may be feeling right now. I cannot wait to see where your journey takes you!”