The College of Letters & Science hosted the annual L&S Welcome Event the morning of UW–Madison's Convocation event on Sept. 2, 2025. But the celebration didn't start there, the week prior new L&S students could pick up their free L&S t-shirt to wear to the Welcome Event. Enjoy a photo series chronicling the start of the first semester for Class of ’29.
The week before Convocation and the L&S Welcome event, new L&S students picked up their free L&S Red t-shirt. (Photo: Paula Yu)
Starting out the semester with excitement and Badger pride (Photo: Paula Yu)
On Sept. 2, 300 new L&S Honors students started their morning with an orientation in the Humanities Building, followed by a group photo on Bascom Hill. (Photo: Pete Keys)
Meanwhile over 1,800 new L&S students converged on Memorial Union for their own orientation programming. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
Campus orgs such as Study Abroad, SuccessWorks and Greater University Tutoring Service provided guidance and resources to new students. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
Soon L&S Honors joined the festivities at Memorial Union, sharing smiles and UW spirit. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
Members of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band warmed up the crowd, playing an array of University classics. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
Students linked arms to sing "Varsity" for one of their first times as UW Badgers, and it won't be their last. (Photo: Paula Yu)
After giving an enthusiastic welcome speech, Dean Eric M. Wilcots practices his selfie skills. Be sure to follow him on Instagram: @uwdeanwilcots (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
With over 2,000 new students, Memorial Union was packed as everyone posed for a group photo. (Photo: Paula Yu)
New semester, new friends, new experiences, new memories, forever a Badger (Photo: Paula Yu)
After the L&S Welcome event, a sea of L&S shirts could be seen migrating to Gordon Commons for lunch. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)
L&S students joined friends from other schools and colleges for the Chancellor's Welcome Lunch, just before the main University's Convocation event at the Kohl Center. (Photo: Romulo Ueda)