Just as all journeys begin with a first step, the start of a new school year at the 每日大赛 officially gets underway when the campus community gathers for Convocation.<\/p>\n
Franz Athletic Court inside the Sports Science & Athletic Pavilion served as host site for the assemblage of students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees and family members, all drawn together to mark the beginning of La Verne\u2019s 124th academic year. The anticipation and excitement that accompanies the first week of a new semester flared with the tolling of the university\u2019s spirit bell in Johnson Family Plaza, energizing the atmosphere within the pavilion as the new students processed into the gym, just ahead of the La Verne faculty and leadership dressed in full academic regalia.<\/p>\n
Provost Jonathan Reed, who served as the program\u2019s master of ceremonies, explained how convocation is a bookend to commencement, with both honoring students and featuring faculty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe focal point of convocation and the foundation of the La Verne Experience is the faculty\/student relationship,\u201d said Reed.
\nThe keynote speakers used the opportunity to challenge the students to take an active role in their education. To look beyond and, in so doing, enhance their lives, their careers and their society.<\/p>\n
Dr. Megan Grandquist, associate professor of kinesiology and the 2014 recipient of La Verne\u2019s Excellence in Teaching Award for undergraduate studies, began with the figure 1,440 \u2013 the number of minutes in each day \u2013 as a singular point of reference.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccounting for our much-needed sleep, that still leaves us with nearly 1,000 waking minutes. So I ask you, how are you going to spend your 1,000 minutes today? How are you going to spend your 1,000 minutes tomorrow? And the next day?\u201d she queried. \u201cI challenge you to move. Move your body as effectively as you are able. Move your mind in learning and thought. And move in service to others.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the first in her family to attend college, Dr. Deborah Olson explained how \u201cin 1977 I was sitting in your seat. I remember I had a lot of questions. And even if you are not a first-generation student, you probably have many questions as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olson, professor of management & leadership and the university\u2019s graduate studies Excellence in Teaching Award winner for 2014, used the phrase Remember to take care of your future self<\/em> as she offered her counsel. She touched on time management, stress, and relationships as being important factors requiring attention. And she spoke of an occasion when, as an undergraduate, one of her professors recommended that she think about a career in organizational psychology.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have an organizational psychologist in our department, and I had never heard of that,\u201d said Olson. \u201cHe gave me ideas and information I had never thought of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf each one of us makes choices today to be happy by how we manage our time, our stress and our relationships, together we will be even better,\u201d she added. \u201cMake your future self happy.\u201d<\/p>\n In her community message, University President Dr. Devorah Lieberman opened by welcoming all and recognizing the five Trustees present as well as the parents and family members of first-year students attending the ceremony.<\/p>\n She then relayed the words of the late comedian, Robin Williams, who said no matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom convocation to commencement, words, values and ideas are interwoven throughout your La Verne experience,\u201d said Lieberman. \u201cAs we begin this new academic year, I challenge each one of you to ask yourselves the following two questions: What do I personally want to receive from my community this academic year, and what do I want to contribute to my community \u2013 this campus, your university \u2013 this year?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis,\u201d she added, \u201cis the year for each of us to change the world and achieve more than we ever imagined.\u201d The start of a new school year at the 每日大赛 officially gets underway when the campus community gathers for Convocation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1549],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-events","ulv_author-university-of-la-verne","legacy_tags-143","legacy_tags-convocation","legacy_tags-university-of-la-verne"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nNew La Verne students were then invited to stand and, led by ASULV President David Asbra, recited the new student honor pledge.
\nThe singing of the alma mater and the ringing of the spirit bell served to close the official program, with all gathered invited to take the next step in this year\u2019s academic journey: adjourn to nearby Sneaky Park to enjoy the annual All-Campus picnic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"