Walking around campus you may see some new faces – 322 to be exact. This cohort of new students joins the CMC community, bringing their impressive backgrounds, voices, and ideas to campus.
Here are some highlights of the Class of 2026:
- 17% of the incoming class are the first in their family to attend college;
- 33 states are represented;
- 21 countries are represented;
- A total of 610 leadership positions were held by the first-years — ranging from president of their student body, captain of the robotics team, Eagle Scout awardee, youth advisory member, and entrepreneur.
With a 10.3% acceptance rate, the first-year class is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. To showcase their academic capabilities, first-year CMCers pursued demanding coursework and a wide breadth of leadership experience.
Leadership is something Elijah Touzoukou ’26, of Greensboro, North Carolina, knows well. Although he was student of the year and his high school’s graduation speaker, his proudest accomplishment is simply, “becoming the best version of my unique self.”
Diana Alimzhan ’26 from Almaty, Kazakhstan said she hopes “to become a part of a tightly knitted, supportive community; get the most out of my education; and gain practical skills to be able to solve environmental and social issues in the future.”
Associate Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid Jennifer Sandoval-Dancs said, “The CMC Class of 2026, like classes that have come before them, have used their time, talents, and education to make an impactful change and serve as leaders and role models in their communities. They have demonstrated resilience, and commitment to their passions, even through a pandemic that impacted the heart of their high school experience. The Office of Admission was humbled by the strength they showed through challenges and their exceptional leadership, service, and mentorship to those around them.”
Welcome to the Class of 2026; you have a large community cheering you on!