This past week, the University of Lynchburg welcomed a record number of new Westover Honors Fellows to campus — 107. That’s almost double the number that enrolled at Lynchburg for the 2025-26 academic year.
According to Dr. Rachel Willis, director of the Westover Honors Community, this constitutes a “record-breaking class and represents an increase of nearly 50 students — 47 total — from last year, which was also a relatively strong incoming class at 60.”
Willis said the new Westovers came from across the Mid-Atlantic, as well as Louisiana, New York, California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states. She added that more than half are student-athletes.
“We’re excited to see how the community at Westover Honors is thriving,” Willis said. “We have a lot of passion and interest in the tried-and-true Westover Honors curriculum model … and prospective families are often excited by the idea of taking general education classes with other honors students.”
When they arrived on campus, the incoming Westovers were greeted by mentors who are already members of the Westover Honors Community.
“This will hopefully further connect our new students to our campus community, and it highlights the investments made in leadership and the community engagement from our upperclassmen,” Willis said in July.
After arriving on campus, the Westovers also picnicked at the pavilion on campus and spent time with Lynchburg’s Outdoor Leadership Program at the ropes course.
