Salem College, the oldest continuously operating women’s college in the United States, expects a record number of new students to arrive on campus next Saturday, August 21. Here are a few facts about the group:

•    There are a total of 177 traditional-age women enrolling: the largest number since 2003 and a 15 percent increase in the number of new students over 2009. Transfer students number 23 of that total.
•    The new students represent 24 states — including California, Colorado and Michigan as well as the Southeast — as well as the countries of Ethiopia, South Africa and Colombia.
•    There are 30 recruited student athletes for the fall who will be participating in NCAA Division III soccer, volleyball and cross-country with the Salem Spirits.
•    There are 10 students who have existing family ties to Salem College; among them are three daughters, a granddaughter and six sisters of Salem alumnae.
•    Two took gap years between high school and college, one studying abroad in South Korea, and one hiking the Appalachian Trail.
•    One of the members of the Class of 2014, Paige Hamilton, will represent Salem in the 2010 U.S. Collegiate Figure-Skating Championship.
•    Two first-years played in the East-West All Star soccer game which includes the top 32 players in North Carolina.
•    More than 85 percent attended public high schools, eight percent private schools, one percent were home schooled and one percent come from early college programs.
•    One-third have identified themselves as students of color (African American, Hispanic, multi-ethnic, Asian, Native American).