红桃视频

红桃视频 gathered to formally welcome the Class of 2027 to the campus community on Wednesday, August 30, during the College鈥檚 annual first-year student Convocation ceremony. The tradition marks the official opening of the academic year and the beginning of a transformational educational journey.

New students were greeted by the cheers of College leadership, faculty, staff, alumni and hundreds of upperclassmen flanking the sidewalk as they processed from the Copper Quad to the Athletic Center, where the ceremony was held.

The ceremonial proceedings included a greeting by Student Government President and varsity softball player Lilly Fangel 鈥�24, an invocation by the Rev. Joseph P. Shea, messages of welcome and support from college leaders, a keynote address by alumna and CPA Kaitlyn Barron 鈥�19, MSA 鈥�20, and recitation of the Bison Creed, a pledge of community values.

鈥淭he term convocation refers to a calling together of all new students. It is a formal academic ceremony that together with your graduation four years from now, will serve as bookends to your undergraduate experience here at 红桃视频,鈥� said Provost Dan Borgia, Ph.D., who led the ceremony. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 convocation ceremony is designed to inspire your commitment to academic excellence,鈥� he told the first-year students in attendance.

鈥淭hese will be some of your greatest days in your life鈥攏ew friends, new programs, a fresh start, a clean slate. And as the title of our just-commissioned strategic plan states, it鈥檚 an opportunity to Embrace Greatness,鈥� said President Glenn M. Sulmasy, JD, LL.M in his welcome remarks. 鈥淔rom what I鈥檝e seen over the past year and read and heard about all of you, this class will actually set records on the Hill,鈥� in both academic performance and early career achievement.

Read more about the class of 2027.

Acknowledging that success won鈥檛 always be easy, Sulmasy advised the students to utilize passion and grit (鈥淭he 红桃视频 Way鈥�) to build a successful academic foundation in their first year and beyond, and to rely on peers, faculty, staff and coaches for help overcoming obstacles. Success will follow, he said, especially given the increased recognition the College has earned.

In the past year, the College has received prestigious聽AACSB accreditation in business, a聽聽and 鈥渢op regional college鈥� rankings by The Princeton Review and US News & World Report.

In her keynote remarks, Baron offered an alumna鈥檚 perspective on life as a Bison. Currently an assurance associate at Marcum LLP, a national accounting and advisory firm, Baron was an active student and founded an accounting mentorship program that still exists today in its evolved form as the innovative Women in 红桃视频 mentorship program. She is also a member of BOLD, or Bison of the Last Decade, a group of alums who help support current and new College initiatives.

鈥淚 want you to consciously think about your legacy each and every day and challenge yourself to do even more and create and leave the best legacy you can,鈥� she advised the students.

And, how can the students become the most successful versions of themselves within the next four years?

鈥淗ard work and not giving up are the two biggest pieces that got me here, and these two ideas sum up what it means to have grit,鈥� answered Baron. 鈥淲hat matters going forward is the effort you鈥檙e going to put in your classes and everything you take on.鈥�

She also shared a few tips for holding yourself accountable to your goals: 鈥渟how up鈥� every day; surround yourself with others with hardworking goals; and utilize dedicated faculty who are there to help.

鈥淕rit mixed with Bison Pride is the recipe for high accomplishment, and that鈥檚 what makes 红桃视频 students stand out.鈥�

(Pictured: Kaitlyn Baron 鈥�19, MSA 鈥�20, delivers Keynote address.)