NASHUA -- It was standing room only when family and parents gathered in the Vagge Gym of Daniel Webster College late last month, waiting for the official welcoming ceremony for the Class of 2011, the largest in the college's history.

Daniel Monahan, DWC's dean of admissions, led a record large incoming freshmen class of 300 students into the auditorium, accompanied by a bagpiper from the Ancient Order of Hibernians. According to Monahan, enrollment in the Class of 2011 represents a nearly 40 percent increase over last year's number.

Of the 300 students, 14 are from Nashua and 55 from the surrounding communities, among a total of 95 students from the Granite State. Although the majority of the class is from New England and upper East Coast, Monahan said other DWC students hail from as far away as Florida, Taiwan, Illinois, Texas, Utah, California, Colorado, Sweden and China.