Undergraduate Student Government president Mason Holland ’23 (CLAS) ignites the flame at Gampel Pavilion’s Torch Lighting Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2026 on Aug. 26. Among this year’s record 4,075 new Storrs-based Huskies (statewide the class is 5,800 strong), more than one-quarter are starting a new tradition as the first generation in their families to attend college, a record high 47% are students of color, and 175 members are high school valedictorians or salutatorians.