New Student Convocation Welcomes Class of 2015

"Choices."

It was the theme of the day as Curry College President Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr., alumnus Dana Panepinto '87, and several other Curry community representatives welcomed the incoming class of 2015 during Curry's New Student Convocation on August 30, 2011.

Postponed 24 hours due to Hurricane Irene, the bright, sunny Tuesday morning event began with applause from faculty and staff for the first-year class as they made their way down from North Campus and across Westhaver Park to the Student Center for the ceremony. Faculty members, adorned in their traditional academic regalia, joined the processional filing into the Student Center gymnasium.

Chelsey Kaiser, Michelle Pritchard and Liana Sceviour, all student members of Curry College Pure Vocals Club, began the ceremony with a beautiful rendition of our national anthem, and were followed on stage by student speaker and SGA President Natalie Petit. Petit spoke about the speed in which four years of college has passed her by, advising the incoming class to seize these precious moments and make them count. 

"This is your life and not your parents, girlfriend or boyfriend, or friends. Live your life and find all the ways you make your life worth living. Whether you utilize Spiritual Life, Career Services, or the Academic Enrichment Center, get active, get educated, and begin to take a stand."

Faculty speaker and criminal justice and sociology professor, Dr. Karen Lischinsky spoke about social justice, calling on the Class of 2015 to use their time at Curry to learn, reflect and ultimately take action to make the world a better place.

"You will soon have books to read, papers to write, new places to go, and new friends to meet.  But please consider this your first college assignment of the semester. Deeply reflect upon what kind of person you want to be as you spend the next four years of your life on this campus and constantly remain curious about the possibility of leading a meaningful life by joining others in healing a broken world."

Panepinto then followed, acting as the keynote speaker for the event.  The General Sales Manager and Director of Sports Sales at Sports Radio WEEI  - Boston, continued the theme of the day by stressing to the incoming class the importance of making good choices, most importantly the choice to be persistent.

"College is when your life changes.  Most of you are away from home for the first time. You are considering your futures and you'll have many decisions to make on your own.  Be thoughtful...life is about making decisions; the path you follow is about making these decisions.  Be smart; make the right decisions, not necessarily the easy ones.  And remember, as an unknown author once wrote, 'The temptation to quit is greatest just before you succeed.'"

Following the keynote speech, Chief Academic Officer David Potash officially matriculated the members of the Class of 2015, who then stood proudly while senior Sarah Nix, Student President of the Alexander Graham Bell Honor Society, led the recitation of the Curry Class Oath.

The parting recessional spilled out of the Student Center into the sun-filled amphitheatre, where community members gathered for refreshments and conversation before the start of the day's classes.

Sally Buckley, Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Registration, helped spearhead the New Student Convocation event

"Curry's New Student Convocation was a great success. In spite of the fact that it was rescheduled due to the weather challenges of the previous few days, the turnout was great, which I think demonstrates Curry's strong sense of community spirit, pride, and high level of commitment to our students."