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(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The »¨½·Ö±²¥ will welcome an incoming class of 275 students with two Matriculation Ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 7 in Annunciation Chapel on USM's Main Campus at 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.

About 190 freshmen and 85 new transfer students will participate in the traditional ceremonies. USM will host two sessions – for only the third time in university history – due to the size of the incoming class, one of the largest in the university's history.

Following a greeting from USM President Sister Diane Steele, students will light candles at the altar and form a circle around the chapel. The candlelight symbolizes the potential of students and the university's mission being carried out into the world.

USM is one of only a handful of American universities with a formal matriculation ceremony. The higher education tradition dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. USM began holding its version in the 1980s.

The Matriculation Ceremonies will follow the start of the fall semester, which began on Aug. 29.

The »¨½·Ö±²¥ is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of »¨½·Ö±²¥ main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM's Overland Park Campus at 4500 College Boulevard offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit  for more information.