Class of 2011 Convocation - Sunday, August 19, 2007, at the Civic Center

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>We greatly enjoyed Convocation when we attended with our daughter.</p>

<p>*Florida State University will honor its incoming first-year students and help them mark their official entrance into its community of scholars during New Student Convocation, set for Sunday, August 19, 2007, at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.</p>

<p>Families also are invited to attend the one-hour event, which will provide the Class of 2011 with a memorable introduction to FSU history and traditions and its first taste of university pomp and circumstance. The ceremony will open with an academic procession led by Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Lawrence G. Abele that features the deans of FSU's 16 colleges in full academic regalia.</p>

<p>"New Student Convocation marks students' formal entrance into Florida State University and helps them learn what we value most in our academic community: scholarship, integrity, responsibility and leadership," Abele said.</p>

<p>Following opening remarks by Abele, Sir Harold Kroto--FSU's Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry--will deliver the convocation address. Born and educated in England, Kroto was knighted in 1996 for his contributions to science through chemistry, and later that year, was one of three scientists awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Kroto's address will include his insights on the ways in which students can make the most of their academic and extracurricular lives.</p>

<p>During a pinning ceremony led by Vice President for Student Affairs Mary B. Coburn, FSU's newest students will recite the Seminole Creed as they don a special pin created specifically for the event. The torch ceremony that follows, led by Dean of Undergraduate Studies Karen L. Laughlin, will emphasize the intellectual traditions of the institution and include a recitation of the Academic Honor Policy Pledge. Between the Alma Mater--to be sung by first-year music major Tyler Tucker of Moultrie, Ga.--and the recessional--accompanied by the "Hymn to the Garnet and Gold"--Abele will present Class of 2011 members with a charge outlining his high expectations for their performances as scholars and leaders.</p>

<p>New Student Convocation also will include FSU's historic Torch Ceremony, during which upper-class students pass the torches representing Vires (strength), Artes (skill) and Mores (customs) to members of the first-year class.</p>

<p>This year's upper-class representatives will include sophomore Nicole Trainor of Tallahassee, a double major in Spanish and international affairs; Vires representative Sarah Griffin of Hereford, Texas, an April 2007 graduate with a degree in Finance and plans to enter the MBA program next year; Artes representative Joe O'Shea, of Clearwater, a senior double-majoring in philosophy and social science, a Truman Scholar, and currently the student body president; and Mores representative Nydia Simon, born in the Bronx and now of Gainesville, a senior political science and interdisciplinary science major, and the 2008 senior class president.</p>

<p>Freshmen receiving the torches on behalf of the Class of 2011 will be Mike McLatchey, a double major in philosophy and political science from Winter Park; Christina Sanchez, a film major from Overland Park, Kan.; and Mickey Shea, of Palm Harbor, a double major in English literature and philosophy.</p>

<p>In addition, freshman Bridgette Davidovici--a Miami resident since age 10 and now pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in Acting--will read excerpts from a sampling of scholarship-winning Vires, Artes, Mores essays written by Class of 2011 members.</p>

<p>Sunday's Convocation is the first major student activity during FSU's annual Seminole Sensation Week, a jam-packed slate of free and low-cost activities and campus events. Since the 1980s, this annual prelude to the fall semester has enabled students to connect with friends while sampling some of the extracurricular activities that energize campus life. For a schedule of 2007 Seminole Sensation Week activities, visit the Web site at ssweek.fsu.edu.*</p>

<p>For the complete article, see: <a href="http://fsu.edu/news/2007/08/16/2011.class/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://fsu.edu/news/2007/08/16/2011.class/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Here's the report on the Convocation: <a href="http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/NEWS01/708200320/1010%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/NEWS01/708200320/1010&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>*"Florida State University began instilling some Seminole pride in its new freshman at Sunday's convocation, attended by about 1,000 students and several hundred parents.</p>

<p>For the first time, students were introduced to the history of the Seminole tribe. Plus, they were treated to an address by Nobel prize-winning chemistry professor Sir Harold Kroto. Upper classmen passed torches to the new freshmen and students recited the Seminole Creed and the Honor Policy Pledge and learned the alma mater.</p>

<p>Kroto started his address on a light note, telling his audience, "As Henry VIII said to his wives, 'I shan't keep you very long.' ” In the body of his speech, he reminded students of the importance of drive and determination.</p>

<p>"You won't actually learn something unless you work really hard," he said.</p>

<p>Provost Larry Abele, who made the welcoming address and also gave a closing charge to the students at the convocation, anticipates a good year at FSU.</p>

<p>"I'm pretty excited about it," he said. "We have new residence halls, so we are accommodating more students on campus and students who live on campus tend to do better academically than students who live off-campus."</p>

<p>The new dormitories, Wildwood and Degraff residence halls, each contain 700 beds. They opened to students on Saturday. Wildwood is located on the corner of Varsity Drive and Jefferson Street, and Degraff is at the intersection of Tennessee and Dewey streets.</p>

<p>Abele also said FSU hired 137 new faculty members this year, mostly in the science departments, but with some hired in the humanities and social sciences. For the past two years, under the leadership of President T. K. Wetherell, the school has sought to keep up with the increasing numbers of students by hiring new faculty. The school now regularly hires between 135 and 150 new faculty, for a net gain of about 60 professors. Before Wetherell became president, the average was 90 to 100, a net gain of about 10 professors."*</p>