This year's incoming freshman class — the Class of 2010 — features some very impressive numbers indeed.

The approximately 1,450 first-year students hail from all over the world and represent about 19 countries, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

They arrived in late August and have been busy unpacking, learning their way around the Hilltop Campus and gearing up for the fall semester, which began Aug. 30.

Many in the select group were academic leaders, student government officers and participants in extracurricular activities and athletics in high school. Collectively, the incoming class has received more than 2,500 special awards and recognitions.

In addition:

• More than 1,000 students are National Honor Society members;

• 180 were senior class officers, and 460 were officers in service organizations;

• Many served as editors — 74 of yearbooks and 145 of newspapers;

• More than 400 were members of their school bands or orchestras and more than 200 were members of a choir or chorus, and;

• In athletics, 458 were team captains.

"It is a delight to have such a talented and diverse freshman class on campus," said Nanette H. Tarbouni, director of undergraduate admissions. "We encourage everyone to extend a warm welcome to them."

The freshmen were chosen from a record number of applicants — more than 22,000.

"We are excited that so many students chose to come to Washington University," Tarbouni said. "That is quite a compliment to the Washington University community."