Faculty and staff welcomed new students Wednesday to Wiley College — "the place to be" — during the president's annual convocation Thursday.

"We're entering the 135th year of continuous operation and service of Wiley College. We extend a special welcome to new first year students, transfer students and returning students," said Dr. Haywood L. Strickland, Wiley's president.

And judging by the college's record enrollment figures this year, the college seems to definitely be a "place to be" with an enrollment increase of 48 percent.

"We were excited last year about our enrollment of 861 students. This year, as of yesterday, I'm pleased to announce the current enrollment is 921 students," Strickland said.

He noted the college lost about 100 prospective students due to lack of housing available to accommodate them. However, residents halls are completely filled and about 60 plus students are being housed at Texas State Technical College and other venues.

Other areas of the college are also forging strongly ahead, especially the choirs in its music department, which rendered selections Wednesday. The A Cappella Choir, directed by Stephen Hayes, wooed the audience with its crescendo tunes. The Freshman Choir, under the direction of LaDonna Gaut, inspired the crowd with its gospel grooves, featuring saxophonist Ian Bethel.

Hands raised in praise, heads rocked and bodies swayed as audience members stood to their feet witnessing to God's goodness as the choir sang, "Grateful," and "He Keeps on Making a Way for Me." The songs were just what was needed to kick off the college's fall revival services, which starts next week at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

"We have some good church this year," Dr. Joseph Morale, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, attested after the riveting performances.

Along with "good church" the college also expects great things, especially from the freshmen who took their oath to "hold high academics and social standards that are the legacy of Wiley since its founding by the Freedmen's Aid Society in 1873."

And as they begin a new school year, Strickland encouraged all students in "a village called Wiley" to be beyond ordinary.

"I see students of achievement," he said, naming Wileyites like Miss Wiley, Ashley Phillips, a pre-med major who worked in an internship at the University of Connecticut.

And while some may see the spiker on the volleyball team, point guard on the basketball team or pitcher on the baseball team, Strickland sees professionals.

"I see scientists, engineers, historians and architects who want to participate in sports a little time, but be those things (professionals) a lifetime," he said.

He urged students to look beyond the outer exterior and see the treasures in others.

"There is a treasure in each one of us," he pointed out. "There is a pretty gem in each of our Wiley students. Search for it. Break it open, peel away the clay shell and go beyond the clothes they wear," he challenged the students.

The president continued his charge, admonishing the faculty and staff to see students as God sees them.

"They may not look like much, but God is not through with them yet," he said, soliciting a rouse of applause. "They may not know much right now, but Wiley is not through with them yet."

Strickland said the college's responsibility is to bring hope to the students it serves and assure students are successful "no matter where we find them or their qualifications."

"Our goal is to teach them to live a fulfilled life — intellectually and spiritually and instill in them a passion for learning," he said.

Strickland said he also wants Wiley to be a transformed experience for students, allowing them to have a transformed heart, a new passion, a transformed mind and a new loyalty.

"We want you to have a new passion that will be with you for the rest of your life that will help you become an individual," he said, advising them not to let negative things distract them.

"I'm here to tell you, 'College should change you,'" he stressed, raising his voice with authority.

With that said, he told them to have a "new loyalty" to their education.

"You can't serve two masters as the Bible says and neither can you serve education and ignorance," he said as the audience concurred with applause.

Strickland closed his speech quoting the words of Wiley's first place essay contest winner Marrissia Jones.

"What makes Wiley so special? What truly makes Wiley the place to be?," the essay read.

"To a struggling woman, Wiley is a place to provide hope. To a young man with no direction, Wiley is a place of guidance. To someone lost in the crowd, it is a place of acceptance.

"To professors, it is a place to dedicate their life to educational advancement. To staff, it is a place to give love. To the president, it is his home and a place where he labors," Ms. Jones wrote.

"Although Wiley is small in size, it's a great institution that brings in great leaders," Strickland said.

Just as the bar in the TV sitcom "Cheers" was a place where everybody knew your name, "Wiley is a place where everyone knows your name," Strickland said.

"You belong to our village," he told students. "It can give you love and care and help you transform."