Officials and student leaders welcomed the Class of 2024 in the first-ever virtual convocation ceremony Wednesday.

University President Thomas LeBlanc, Provost Brian Blake and the heads of five undergraduate schools welcomed students to GW in a prerecorded video made available to students Wednesday morning. Student representatives from the Residence Hall Association, GW baseball, women’s basketball and the Student Association and a student orientation coordinator also spoke, giving advice to incoming freshmen and welcoming them to GW.

Blake urged students to “take advantage” of the opportunities available to “engage with your new colleagues.”

“It’s more important than ever before that you build relationships with your colleagues, both in and out of the class,” he said.

SA President Howard Brookins said student leaders have “pushed GW to be the best version of itself” and called for incoming freshmen to “embrace uncertainty.”

“We are working very hard to make sure that GW is everything that you imagined,” Brookins said. “We are always here for you and will be there to support your advocacy endeavors all throughout your time here.”

LeBlanc said students can be “proud” that GW is part of the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges, citing GW’s participation in a nationwide clinical trial for the COVID-19 vaccine and testing facilities offered by the GW Hospital and Medical Faculty Associates.

“The pandemic has changed a lot, but it hasn’t changed the exceptional quality of our students and our faculty,” he said. “It doesn’t change our commitment to build a more inclusive community and country.”