Convocation kick off new academic year Aug. 30

Paul Jones (right), who will receive an honorary degree at New Student Convocation, frequently meets with students when he’s on the campus.

2:20 p.m., Aug. 27, 2004--The University of Delaware will officially welcome the Class of 2008 during New Student Convocation on Monday, Aug. 30. The event, free and open to the public, begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center.

The Convocation, which marks the beginning of the 2004-05 academic year, will include the presentation of an honorary degree to one of the nation’s foremost collectors of African-American art, Paul R. Jones. Howard E. Cosgrove, chairman of UD’s Board of Trustees, will confer the degree.

Jones, who will deliver the keynote speech, is an Atlanta entrepreneur who amassed a collection of more than 1,500 pieces, one of the most complete holdings of African-American art in the world. His collection, containing etchings, photographs and three-dimensional works by 20th Century African-American artists, was donated to UD in February 2001. The collection is housed in the newly renovated Mechanical Hall.

University President David P. Roselle will welcome the new students, and Brandon Langer, a freshman music education major from Lincoln, Neb., will sing the national anthem and alma mater. John Cordrey from the Class of 2006 will extend the student welcome, and Patricia DiPinto, Class of 1954, will present the Class of 2008 flag to Darren Mooney, from Newark, and Katelyn Ruiz, from Trumbull, Conn.

New Student Convocation is a required event for all new students. Faculty, staff and other members of the University community are encouraged to attend. Faculty and staff do not need to wear academic regalia and should sit with the students from their departments.

After the ceremony, lunch will be served for all guests in the Bob Carpenter Center Concourse. No lunch will be available to new students in the dining halls that day.

Bus transportation to the Bob Carpenter Center from Academic Orientation classes will be provided from 9:30-10:15 a.m. from pick-up locations at the Smith Hall overpass (northbound and southbound), Alfred Lerner Hall, the Perkins Student Center, the Trabant University Center (garage driveway) and Townsend Hall (front).

After Convocation, bus transportation back to central campus will be provided to the Smith Hall overpass until 2 p.m.

Article by Meredith McCarty, AS ‘05

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.