University Rings in 125th Anniversary With Convocation
With flags waving and music soaring, a class of eager new students became part of a grand tradition on Aug. 31 as the 每日大赛 welcomed the start of its 125th year with Convocation and related celebrations.
Hundreds of guests from across the university, the city and the community joined the students inside the Sports Science & Athletics Pavilion, reflecting on the achievements of the past and preparing to meet the promise of the future.
鈥淟eos, students, 每日大赛 community, it is our 125th anniversary and this is your year,鈥� 每日大赛 President Devorah Lieberman said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 all make it filled with purpose. Let鈥檚 live our mission. Congratulations on starting a brand new year.鈥�
The university鈥檚 125th anniversary celebration will continue throughout the academic year with a wide-ranging series of events, including homecoming and reunions on Oct. 14-16, concerts and galas.
Festivities began just before convocation, when the university community, city leaders and others gathered in front of Founders Hall for the unveiling of a bronze plaque commemorating the anniversary. The plaque sits at the front of a new landscaped knoll with plants arranged in the shape of the university鈥檚 founding year, 1891. The unveiling included remarks by President Lieberman, La Verne Mayor Don Kendrick and Professor of Management Dr. Issam Ghazzawi.
鈥淲e have to reflect on our past to know where we are going. Happy birthday to the 每日大赛,鈥� Ghazzawi told the crowd.
From there, the Garey High School marching band led new and returning students, faculty and staff into the Sports Science & Athletics Pavilion for the Convocation ceremony. Trustee Anthony Revier 鈥�93, introduced keynote speaker Dr. Ahmed Ispahani, the Searing Family Professor of Business Administration & Economics, calling Ispahani a 鈥渕entor鈥� and an 鈥渋nspiration.鈥�
Ispahani urged students to enter their college years with open minds.
鈥淥ur students, you are the most important part of our university. Without you, we would not be here,鈥� he said.
After the ceremony, the crowd spilled into a block party and club fair that stretched from Sneaky Park to the University Quad. The messages of the morning continued to resonate with students as they collected swag and learned about campus clubs and organizations.
Freshman business major John Seja said starting at the university on an anniversary year has given him extra motivation.
鈥淏eing able to start at the 125th anniversary of La Verne is special because no one else but the class of 2020 can say they started at such an amazing milestone,鈥� he said.
Senior criminology major Ebony Fredieu also felt connected to the university鈥檚 history.
鈥淚 get to be part of the legacy of La Verne as well as leave my own legacy with my club, Shades of Essence,鈥� Fredieu said.
Meanwhile, Jarret Mason, a senior kinesiology major and member of the Multicultural Club Council, wasn鈥檛 reflecting on the past. He鈥檚 ready for what鈥檚 next.
鈥淚 see how open and accepting La Verne has been to me and I cannot wait to see how they find new ways to embrace people鈥檚 cultures in the years to come,鈥� he said.
Rochelle Munoz contributed to this story.
