Joining the Auburn Family

Diante Thomas, a Selma, Alabama, resident, is among the incoming class of students for this fall at Auburn University. He plans to major in civil engineering.

For a quick glimpse into Auburn University’s impressive class of incoming students for the fall, look no further than Hope Samuels, Diante Thomas and Allison Salter. 

The three are reflective of an incoming freshman class that represents every county in Alabama and every state in the nation. All have bright futures and big plans as they eagerly anticipate their time on the Plains.

“I plan to major in civil engineering because I truly want to make an impact in the world that I am living in, and Civil Engineering is the best way for me to do it,” said Thomas, a Selma, Alabama, resident who was among the top of his graduating class at Selma High School.

Salter, whose hometown is Jacksonville, Florida, is planning to make her mark on the world in the field of marketing.

“I plan to major in marketing within the Harbert College of Business,” said Salter, who was an honors student at Ponte Vedra High School, where she took six AP and four dual enrollment classes. “The marketing program at my high school sparked my curiosity in business as I sought an internship and grew in customer service, social media implementation and digital marketing, and I look forward to continuing on this path at Auburn.”

Samuels, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident, also graduated at the top of her class at Midfield High School. She will pursue her degree in material engineering.

“I chose this path because I wanted to do a versatile career that will allow me to explore various career titles and industries, ensuring I’m not limited to just one specific role,” she said. “This way, I can constantly learn and acquire new skills. I also chose material engineering because I love creative problem-solving. I want to add to the history of women in STEM!”

Hope Samuels, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident, will pursue a degree in material engineering at Auburn in the fall.

Auburn’s record demand

Each of the three standout students will join Auburn as the demand for an Auburn education is at an all-time high. Just recently, Auburn announced yet another record number of applications received for the fall — more than 55,000, a 14% increase from fall 2023, when the university experienced a previous record of 48,000 first-year student applications.

Among the applications received for fall, the applicant pool included more than 12,500 Alabama residents, with representation from every county in the state and all states in the nation, showcasing the growing demand for an Auburn education. All total, 46% of applicants received admission, with 30% hailing from Alabama. Additionally, 25% of the admitted students were from an underrepresented background, further emphasizing the university’s dedication to access. The incoming class’ average GPA was 4.2, and 12% of those admitted are first-generation students, meaning they are the first in their family to attend college. The top 10 states that students were admitted from were, in order: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Louisiana and Virginia. 

Samuels, Thomas and Salter say they can’t wait to get to campus and begin their Auburn experience.

“I’m excited to join the Auburn Family and live the best years of my life on campus,” Thomas said. 

Allison Salter, a Jacksonville, Florida, resident, plans to make her mark on the world in the field of marketing.

Journey to the Plains

Each of the three students found their way to Auburn via different paths. For Salter, Auburn has been in her blood for a long time. Her family ties to the university span nearly 60 years, with seven of her immediate family members having attended Auburn. Her grandmother taught in Auburn’s College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Teaching, and supervised interns, and her grandparents retired to Auburn and are actively involved in the university community. Her mother, Madelen Raughton, is a 2001 Auburn graduate and was heavily involved on campus, including as a member of the War Eagle Girl and Plainsmen and the Cater Society.

“My mom is my inspiration, and I aspire to follow in her footsteps,” she said. “I am proud of my family’s history with Auburn and have grown up visiting campus and attending football games. I am honored to call Auburn home. War Eagle!”

Meanwhile, Thomas’ journey began far from Auburn.

“I actually started off as a die-hard Alabama fan (mostly because my family loves Alabama), and I never truly gave Auburn a thought,” he said. “During my ninth-grade year, I started to look at colleges, and Auburn was the best school in the state for engineering. That made me take a closer look at Auburn.”

He added that “the crime rate in my city is high, and opportunities for kids here are very minimal. So, it took lots of studying and asking for help from my teachers to make sure I achieved the scores and grades that were needed to be accepted to Auburn University.”

Then, there’s Samuels’ path to Auburn – one of great academic success amid a major challenge. 

“Throughout my four years of high school, my mom had to do a medical procedure called dialysis due to her kidney failure,” she said. “Recently, my mom received a kidney transplant. This event had a major effect on our family growth. Watching my mother’s resilience during her kidney transplant process motivated me to face difficulties with bravery and hope. Her successful surgery not only improved her health but also brought our family closer together in unexpected ways.”

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Auburn University receives record-breaking applicants for fall 2024

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On the horizon

So, what do each of these stellar students have to say about their excitement to attend Auburn, and what are they looking forward to doing once on campus?

“Most definitely (attending) the football games,” Thomas said, adding that he also can’t wait to roll the trees at Auburn’s famed Toomer’s Corner. 

Salter said she wants to experience everything that makes Auburn so great. 

“I am most excited to be on campus and participate in events as I have been visiting campus since I was a young girl,” she said. “I am looking forward to attending the football and basketball games, attending club events and meeting new people.”

Samuels agreed and said her excitement to become an Auburn student derives from a keyword that best describes the Plains – home. 

“My first time stepping foot on the Plains was July 2023 for Tiger Takeoff,” she said. “I immediately felt the welcoming spirit and couldn’t see myself at any other institution. Despite being 143 miles away from home, Auburn felt right at home for me. The traditions, student development and just overall excellence of Auburn University played a huge role in my decision.”