New students in the Class of 2021 arrived on campus on August 27, greeted by cheering New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) leaders who helped them move into their residence halls. Later that evening, the Class of 2021 began its Columbia journey under white tents on Low Plaza at Convocation. Following a procession of faculty, alumni marched with banners representing their class decades in the Alumni Procession to demonstrate to new arrivals their lifelong connection.

Former Columbia Fencing team members Nicole Ross CC’13, Nzingha Prescod CC’15 and Margaret Lu CC’17 made history when they — together with fencer Lee Kiefer — received a silver medal in the team foil event at the 2017 FIE World Championships in Fencing, the best result in a team foil event for U.S. women in world championships history.

Anneliese Mesa-Jonassen CC’17, originally from Pleasantville, NY, has been awarded a prestigious Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellowship. The fellowship provides $19,000 to support students in the visual and fine arts, including art history, conservation, studio art and photography, for travel and living expenses outside the United States.

The Academic Awards Committee of Columbia College is pleased to announce the 2017 winners of the student-nominated Lionel Trilling Book Award and Mark Van Doren Award for Teaching.