Over the Fourth of July weekend, the college welcomed the new students of Deep Springs Class of 2016. Hailing from across the United States as well as Canada and South Africa, this is the 100th new group of students to arrive in the valley since Deep Springs was established in 1917. (While the first arrivals in 1917 had to sleep in tents and assist with building the college from the ground up, the latest arrivals have it somewhat easier.)
Just one week after the graduation of DS’14, the new first-year students arrived on Friday for dinner, then convened their first Student Body meeting with the second-years on hand. On Saturday, the entire group embarked on the traditional hike up Chocolate Mountain peak, camping overnight. On Monday, Summer Seminar commenced the seven week term with its first class. In addition to the academic course work and self-governance meetings, the first-years will attend weekly “sense-of-place” lectures with staff around the ranch, farm and desert to become familiar with Deep Springs’ unique surroundings and program. Over the course of 100 years, Deep Springs has matriculated just over 1100 individuals. We’re excited to reach this milestone.