Seniors arriving back on campus are face to face with the bittersweet fact that it’s their last semester of their Holy Cross careers. Senior Convocation — now a four-year-old tradition — is an opportunity to make the most of months before commencement.
“The Convocation is a celebration of the journey — past, present, and future — undertaken by the Class of 2008,” explains Victoria Swigert, dean of the class. “On the eve of their final semester at Holy Cross, we bring the class together and ask them to reflect on the distance they have traveled to this moment so that they might be more intentional about the journey to come. Spring 2008 is their capstone semester: What remains? How do they want to punctuate their Holy Cross experience?”
Seniors will ponder those questions on Jan. 15, one day before spring semester classes begin, when they gather in St. Joseph Chapel for the event.
Patrick Rodenbush ’08 and Kathleen Willett ’08 will deliver this year’s Scholar Addresses. The seniors, selected from a pool of applicants, will be addressing the academic, spiritual, service, athletic and leadership experiences they have had and describe how those experiences will shape their lives after graduation.
“Pat’s speech centers on the positive role that doubt can play in our lives as we move forward,” says Class President Margaret Moran. “He highlights the fact that our liberal arts education fosters this application of doubt, and enables us to think — and thus doubt — in a way that we should celebrate and embrace. Kathleen’s speech highlights the firsts and lasts, contrasting where we started and how far we’ve come and the ways in which we’ve come together, while then discussing what we have to look forward to.”
The speeches, Moran stresses, do not have a tone of finality that you might expect from a graduation speech. Instead, they are a reflection of the last seven semesters written to inspire seniors to take advantage of the abundant resources available at the College during their eighth and final semester.
“Both Kathleen’s and Patrick’s speeches, while speaking to the entire class, contain charming personal touches which are sure to resonate with all in our class,” says Commencement Chair Kathleen Dearing ’08.
There will also be a range of student performances, including dance, music, and a poetry reading, says Moran, who will offer welcoming words. Meghan Cox ’08 will read an original poem in English and Spanish. The convocation will feature performances by senior musicians Minh Dinh, Jason Tartaglia, Matt Mohorovich, and Fran Rogers; senior members of the Holy Cross Dance Ensemble; and senior members of the College Choir.
“We are very pleased with the final group of people who are involved, as we think they truly represent our class,” says Moran.
The class will also hear from Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president, and Dean Swigert.
Related Information:
