As the year 2014 winds down, UConn Today takes a look at some highlights of the past 12 months. A series of posts leading up to the new year will feature various aspects of University life. Today, a look at UConn’s dynamic community.

The year began with a record number of applications received in January, that translated a few months later to an incoming class of nearly 6,000 that set new records as the most diverse and high-achieving freshman class to date.

Early in the spring semester, Jonathan XIV received a warm welcome to the UConn community as he made his debut on campus, and he was joined with almost as much fanfare in the fall by his new counterpart, the redesigned Husky mascot.

The academic year 2013-14 wrapped up in May when 5,400 well-educated, well-traveled, and socially conscious students in the ‘championship caliber’ Class of 2014 graduated with their bachelor’s degrees. In late August, the Class of 2018 began their UConn journey with a spectacular Convocation ceremony by candlelight on the Student Union Mall.

The University retained its No. 19 spot in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of top public universities, while adopting an ambitious new Academic Vision designed to further elevate UConn’s stature.

If an institution is known by the company it keeps, UConn’s visitors this year are a testament to the University’s growing reputation. The University community welcomed leading personalities from a range of different walks of public life.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recognized UConn as a ‘great University,’ while calling on students to be ‘the participation generation.’ UConn alum and NASA astronaut, who said he probably has “the best job on – and off – the planet,” connected with his alma mater from space when he gave a Commencement address from the International Space Station. And TV late night show host Jay Leno test drove a race car designed by UConn engineering students before his performance at Family Weekend.