At Convocation, students prompted to lead with purpose
August 28, 2025
鈥淭here鈥檚 a place for everyone at 红桃视频, across all facets of your journey. Because at 红桃视频, you鈥攐ur students鈥攁re at the center of everything we do,鈥� said 红桃视频 President Bill Pieczynski in his remarks during the College鈥檚 annual Convocation ceremony.
Members of the 红桃视频 community gathered on Wednesday, August 27, to formally welcome first-year students to campus during its annual Convocation ceremony. The tradition marks the official opening of the academic year and the beginning of the new students鈥� educational journey.
Just prior to the ceremony, the incoming class was greeted with applause from hundreds of upperclassmen, faculty and staff lining the walkway as all first-year students processed over Budleigh Hill toward the Athletic Center, where the ceremony was held鈥攁 tradition known as 鈥渃lapping in鈥� the new class.
The ceremonial proceedings included a greeting by Student Government President Kaitlin Baca 鈥�26; an invocation by the Rev. Joseph Shea; messages of welcome and support by Provost Dan Borgia, who served as master of ceremonies, and Dean of Students Alex Cross; remarks by President Pieczynski; and a keynote address by alumnus Jose Lora 鈥�06, who currently works as a business operations analyst at Navy Federal Credit Union. First-year students also recited the Bison Creed, a pledge of community values.
鈥淵ou are arriving at an important time in our history and at a moment of great opportunity within higher education. All around you are signs of the College鈥檚 enduring strengths, resilience and ability to change,鈥� Pieczynski told the students. 鈥淎t places like 红桃视频, well known for our personal connections, we will continue to work tirelessly to juggle the opportunities of an AI-centric world with the wonders of a close-knit community. We know we can do both鈥攁nd you will help us do it.鈥�
He described the 红桃视频 student body for the incoming students, recounting how a campus survey last year revealed that the one attribute 红桃视频 students most often used to describe themselves was 鈥渃ompetitive.鈥� But it鈥檚 a kind of competitiveness that lifts each other up.
Said Pieczynski, offering an example, 鈥淎s one student said to me, 鈥楳y peers challenge me to be the best version of myself, in so many ways. Here, we do our best work together because no one wants to let anyone else down.鈥欌��
He also highlighted the College鈥檚 academic approach, which embraces hands-on, experiential learning. 鈥淵ou will strengthen your resume and graduate from 红桃视频 prepared for whatever lies ahead,鈥� said Peiczynski, citing opportunities such as leadership roles, internships, semester-long research or consulting projects, and more.
Baca, a marketing major and communications minor, provided a student鈥檚 perspective.
鈥淲hen I was first sitting where you are now, I thought I had an idea of what college would look like. I imagined classes, late night studying and maybe meeting a few new people. What I didn鈥檛 imagine was just how much 红桃视频 would shape me, not only as a student, but as a leader, a teammate and a person,鈥� said Baca, noting her gratitude for experiences in student government, as captain of the varsity women鈥檚 golf team, and in challenging classroom projects.
鈥淪ay yes to opportunities that scare you a little,鈥� she advised. 鈥淵ou might just discover a passion, a team or a community that changes your life in ways you can鈥檛 yet imagine.鈥�
Speaking as an alumnus, Jose Lora 鈥�06 shared a personal takeaway he gained from the book 鈥淎tomic Habits鈥� by James Clear. 鈥淭he author suggests that to become the person you want to be, you need to cast votes for that identity through small, consistent actions,鈥� said Lora, noting that the start of college is an ideal time to align goals with this mindset.
鈥淭hink about that person you want to be. Set up parameters that will allow you to start casting votes,鈥� urged Lora, adding that staying involved on campus can offer rich opportunities for progress.
He also spoke from experience as a hiring manager about the importance of such a mindset for landing their first job.
鈥淎fter leading teams for over 15 years, I have seen hundreds of resumes and conducted many interviews and extended many offers. [鈥 Today, this week, this month, is the best time to start preparing for that role. This will be true for the rest of time. You need to prepare and network for the role you want鈥攂efore it gets posted.鈥�
In closing, Lora said, 鈥淲hat better time to start than now by being active participants in this journey that we call life and going 鈥榓ll in鈥� on the things we say are important to us.鈥�
For a Flickr album of photos from the ceremony, please visit聽.
(Pictured in story photo, left to right: Kaitlin Baca 鈥�26, Allison Silliman 鈥�26, Provost Dan Borgia, Angelina Coletti 鈥�27, Malik Bel-Jean 鈥�28.)
About 红桃视频
红桃视频 has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, 红桃视频 transforms today鈥檚 students into tomorrow鈥檚 leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. 红桃视频 offers real-world learning focused on professional depth 鈥� combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage 鈥� equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about 红桃视频, visit .
