A warm welcome to the Class of 2006

The University of Delaware welcomed members of the Class of 2006 at New Student Convocation Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the Bob Carpenter Center. During the ceremony, Audrey Forbes Manley, recently retired president of Atlanta's Spelman College, was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree. The ceremony officially opened the University's 2002-03 academic year.

HONORARY DEGREE

Manley, the first Spelman College alumna to become president of the institution, has had an illustrious career in medicine, education and government, serving as acting surgeon general of the United States from 1995-97 and as deputy surgeon general from 1994-95. She was the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of assistant surgeon general and the first to be named deputy assistant secretary for health.

While calling upon the Class of 2006 to spend the next four years building on the gifts they bring with them to UD, Manley also said that the events of 9/11, including the heroics of police, fire and rescue personnel and countless others, have changed the meaning of commitment and service for the generations that follow.

Audrey Forbes Manley addresses new students at Convocation, after receiving an honorary degree.

"That is what 9/11 did so painfully and powerfully--it redefined greatness--right before our tearful eyes," Manley said. "We understand the true meaning of courage and service, and that is what 9/11 is all about--it is about the rewards of serving one's country and the world."

Urging students to draw on their inner strength to deal with this new set of realities while they face an uncertain future, she said, "If you wonder at this point what you can do, there are certain things that you will be called upon to do, right now at this very moment.

"You must commit to the future with a sense of passion to live a life that is noble and dedicated to excellence and service."

Manley graduated cum laude from Spelman in 1955 and earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in 1959. She holds a master's of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University. After completing her residency at Cook County Children's Hospital, she became the first African-American woman to be named chief resident of the celebrated medical facility. Trained in neonatology, she is one of the nation's leading physicians, clinicians, medical academicians and public health professionals. A member of the prestigious Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, she is widely published in medical literature.

UD has a special relationship with Spelman College in connection with the Paul R. Jones Collection of African-American Art. Jones, an Atlanta entrepreneur, gave his world-class collection of 1,000-plus pieces by African-American artists to UD in February of 2001. Mechanical Hall on the Newark campus will become the home of the collection, and plans for its remodeling are now under way.

An exhibition of photographs by the distinguished Tuskegee Institute photographer P.H. Polk that premiered in the University Gallery at Old College, traveled to Spelman, opening in October, and UD and Spelman are enjoying student and faculty exchange programs.

This fall, a recent Spelman graduate, Aimee Miller, will enter the Department of Art's MFA degree program in painting at UD, and in March, a third-year art conservation student from UD visited Spelman, conducting conservation treatments on historic Spelman College photographs. The work took place in Spelman chemistry labs, with students, faculty and staff interaction. Debbie Norris, chairperson of the Department of Art Conservation at the University, also visited the campus in Atlanta, conducting a one-day workshop on preservation of family photographs.

A joint advisory committee has been established with Spelman College, and members will work to advance the relationship between the two schools.

A NEW TRADITION

At the convocation ceremony, freshman Michael Franzone of East Meadow, N.Y., led the singing of the national anthem and the alma mater. Franzone was the unanimous choice of UD voice faculty. This is the first time a freshman has been chosen to sing at this ceremony, and it marks the start of a new tradition for New Student Convocation. Other convocation traditions include the presentation of the class flag and an official University welcome from President David P. Roselle.

'BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST'

The hustle and bustle of the fall semester began Sunday, Sept. 1, when 3,400 freshmen and 596 transfer students arrived on the Newark campus. In addition, 318 new students are enrolled in UD's Parallel Programs in Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown.

"This year we had the largest number of students ever applying to UD–more than 20,000–an increase of 12 percent over last year," Fred Siegel, associate provost for enrollment services, said. "This is an indication of our ability to attract the brightest and the best. With a stronger applicant pool, we can be more selective, and this year's freshman class is excellent.

"For example, students with SAT scores of more than 1400 have increased by 34 percent in this year's class, and the average SAT score is 1179, compared to 1160 last year. There are 44 valedictorians in the class, 35 salutatorians and 263 students with a 4.00 grade point average, the average GPA being 3.51. The Honors Program continues to attract outstanding students, and this year 546 new students are enrolled, compared to 471 last year," he said.

BETH THOMAS, SUE MONCURE AND JERRY RHODES

PHOTOS BY ERIC CROSSAN