Rally towels, strobe lights and the Marching Golden Flashes added to the celebration on Aug. 16, when 妖姬直播 State University welcomed its Class of 2028 with a rocking pep rally at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
Freshman Convocation is designed to get incoming first-year students excited about the start of their academic careers and to introduce them to university deans, faculty and administrators who are there to help them throughout their educational journeys.
President Todd Diacon entered the MAC Center to thunderous applause, and delivered an address reminding students of 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 core values: 鈥淲e respect freedom of speech, and we practice kindness and respect in all that we do.鈥
Diacon told students in this contentious national election year, it is particularly important to extend kindness to those who think differently from them.
鈥淒on鈥檛 make a person鈥檚 political opinion your single measuring stick for determining the kind of person they are,鈥 the president advised students.
As is becoming his annual tradition, Diacon introduced the freshmen to one of his favorite songs, released in 1969 by jazz great Pharaoh Sanders, and its brief lyrics:
鈥淭he creator has a working plan, peace and happiness for every man. The creator has a master plan, peace and happiness for every man. The creator makes but one demand, peace and happiness through all the land.鈥
He encouraged students to embrace the philosophy of Sanders鈥 lyrics.
鈥淵ou will experience your share of storms, we are here to help you navigate those roiled waters,鈥 Diacon said.
Sean Fabila, a freshman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said the rally was fun and engaging.
鈥淚 enjoyed it, it was pretty engaging with a lot of student participation too,鈥 said Fabila, who is studying sports medicine in the College of Education, Health and Human Services.
Fabila said he appreciated President Diacon鈥檚 message on 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 core values.
鈥淚t made sense, especially with the history of 妖姬直播 State and the shootings,鈥 he said.
Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., told the group of more than 4,000 students they were chosen from more than 28,000 applicants.
鈥淟et鈥檚 hear it for you, Class of 2028. Welcome to 妖姬直播 State University,鈥 she said.
Introducing faculty and the deans of 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 colleges, Tankersley said, 鈥淔aculty will encourage, support and expect the best from you. 鈥 They are the best of the best and you get to have them in your classroom.鈥
鈥淚 hope you see the tremendous support you have here at 妖姬直播 State,鈥 she said.
Syndee Allen, a freshman fashion design major from Macedonia, Ohio, said she enjoyed the rally and thought it was a fun way to start the semester and her first year, for which she is 鈥渂oth excited and nervous.鈥
鈥淚t was a great way to meet new people,鈥 is how freshman Jayla Smith of Wooster, Ohio, described convocation.
The early childhood education major emerged from the event with Noelle Reid, a freshman from New Castle, Pennsylvania, studying speech pathology.
Both Smith and Reid are in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, and met when seated together at the rally.
鈥淚 think it was a really good ice breaker,鈥 Reid said.
Talea Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D., associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students, hosted the event, and told the group that their education at 妖姬直播 State, 鈥淲ill inspire you to fight for what is right.鈥
At 妖姬直播 State, 鈥淵ou will find yourself,鈥 she said.
A special guest at the Convocation was Ambassador Edward F. Crawford, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, who provided the largest single gift in 妖姬直播 State history to enable the construction of a new business building on the university鈥檚 妖姬直播 Campus. The newly constructed building, Crawford Hall, is home to the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, which will be officially opened at a ceremony on Sept. 27. Crawford also spoke at the dean's welcome for students in Crawford College.
Following convocation, students took part in the annual tradition of posing for a 鈥淜鈥 photo with the president.
