From Mines to the mountaintops: M Climb welcomes new students to campus

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — Colorado School of Mines welcomed 1,774 first-year and transfer students in traditional Mines fashion on Friday morning. Eager to attend the school and elevate their academic careers, the students had to first make their way up a physical elevation while carrying a piece of their hometown with them.

A tradition since 1908, the M Climb gives the new students the opportunity to mingle with each other on a journey to quite literally leave their mark on the school. Each student is tasked with carrying a 10-pound stone from their hometown up Mount Zion in Golden. Once they reach the peak, the students place their rocks forming a large “M” that has become a visual staple in Golden.

This year’s group of fresh faces was selected from 11,960 applicants to attend the Colorado School of Mines for the 2024-2025 academic school year. The 1,774 new students will get to celebrate their first year at the school as the school itself celebrates its 150th year of operation since its inception in 1874.

This group of first-year students features a diverse group of individuals.

Here are some student facts by the numbers:

• 1,774 new first-year and transfer students
• 516 women
• 538 students from underrepresented domestic ethnic or racial groups
• 18% first-generation college students
• 3% international students
• 3.88 median high school GPA(on an unweighted 4.0 scale)
• 1400 median SAT composite score
• 32 median ACT score
• 49 states represented
• 21 countries represented
• Top 3 U.S. states outside Colorado: Texas, California, and Washington
• Top 3 countries outside the U.S.: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and China

The students began the journey in two waves, one embarked at 7:30 a.m. and the other at 8:30 a.m. They made their way from the IM Fields, across U.S. 6, and up Lookout Mountain Road to the site of the “M” on Mount Zion. Post-climb, the students returned to the campus where they had a cookout awaiting them as well as additional Helluva Welcome activities.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.