News and Events
[printer friendly version]posted on 9/3/03
SJC Convocation Urges Students to Embrace New Beginnings
Story written for SJC by Publications and Media Relations Intern Renee Pugh.
Posted: September 3, 2003
The 2003-2004 academic year at Saint Joseph's College officially began on August 28th with a convocation in the College Chapel. Multiple speakers encouraged students to live the year's motto: "Begin a New Beginning."
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Chattin, Ph.D. began the ceremony by welcoming the Class of 2007 to SJC and introducing the speakers, which included Dean of Freshmen Heidi Rahe, Student Association President Kenny Shumard, and SJC Board of Trustees member David Owens, Director of Multicultural Affairs and Professor of Economics at the American University in Washington, D.C., and a 1975 graduate of SJC.
Rahe commended new students on the progress they made over the course of a week and congratulated them on a successful start. "This time last week, you were packing and checking your lists," she reminded them. "Now you are here, and we are glad you are here."
Shumard encouraged the students to "begin their new beginnings" at SJC by getting involved with campus life. "[SJC's] new tagline is 'Involved For Life.' I encourage you to start that involvement now," he said.
Owens also had pertinent advice. He encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zone in their time at SJC. "Meet someone different. Study abroad ... take risks," he advised. He reminded students to continue their relationships with their families and remain aware of the roots they have in their hometowns. "[SJC] is a wonderful beginning to an educational journey," said Owens, praising students for choosing SJC. "[SJC has] a passionate faculty ... and a wonderful learning paradigm [in the Core Program]," he said.
Saint Joseph's College, named a "character-building college" by the Templeton Foundation, is a four-year, Catholic liberal arts college offering seventy-nine major, minor, and pre-professional programs. Founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, SJC is located in Rensselaer, Indiana, approximately ninety minutes from both Chicago and Indianapolis, on a park-like campus of 180 acres and has an enrollment of approximately one thousand students.
