Miss America Laura Kaeppeler performs at Carthage Opening Convocation

KENOSHA -- Carthage College in Kenosha Sunday, September 2nd welcomed 720 freshmen and 80 transfer students during its traditional Opening Convocation. Carthage alumna Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, sang the National Anthem and performed with the Carthage Choir during the Convocation.

This year’s class at Carthage welcomes students from 20 states, and international students from Japan and Kenya.

"Beyond setting a new enrollment record, this class is a well-rounded group of great students. They bring diverse interests and come from a broad cross-section of the country. The college community is thrilled to welcome their ideas, energy, and potential," Carthage Vice President for Enrollment Dean Clark said in a statement.

More than 70 percent of the entering class graduated in the upper half of their high school classes, and 18 percent in the top 10 percent.

The most popular majors are management, biology, psychology and elementary education, although 60 percent are arriving without declaring a major (about average for the entering class).

Carthage is a college of the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Established in 1847, the College is situated on the Lake Michigan shore, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee.