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| Vol. 17, No. 1 | Sept. 4, 1997 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 1 | Sept. 4, 1997 |
You have, individually and as a group, all the right stuff for the odyssey ahead," Donald L. Peters told the Class of 2001 at New Student Convocation ceremonies held Tuesday, Sept. 2, on the Mall.
Amy Rextrew Professor of Individual and Family Studies and director of the UD Center for Disabilities Studies, Peters is the 1997 recipient of UD's prestigious Francis Alison Award.
Also honored during the ceremony was Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. (See accompanying story.)
In accepting the Alison Award, Peters said, "Awards such as these are never a reflection of one person's achievements. It is always a team effort." He then thanked his wife, family, mentors, colleagues and students for being a part of his team and thanked his "coach," Alex Doberenz, former dean of the former College of Human Resources.
Noting the sense of renewal each September brings to campus, Peters welcomed the new students and told them that learning and development are products of both "what the individual brings to the situation and the nature of the situation itself.
"Contributing on the one hand are the individual's attributes, abilities, propensities, dispositions and past experiences. Contributing on the other are the attributes and supports of the social and physical contexts in which learning takes place.
"Your new environment will be one of inquiry, construction and re-construction-not just in the sense of the continual physical construction and reconstruction of the physical plant of the campus-which seems somehow never-ending-but far more importantly in terms of the construction and reconstruction of peoples' futures....
"This is a place to inquire into and discover new understandings about what the future ought to be and may be. The future is not fixed, is yet to be constructed."
Noting that people learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process, Peters urged the incoming students to follow a course of "involvement, caring and doing."
"Each active learning opportunity you avail yourself of will help to prepare you, in the words of Francis Alison, "for useful practical careers" as well as to become learned members of society," he said.
"The University of Delaware has, from its origins as Francis Alison's academy, espoused the values of individual choice, community responsibility, diversity of background and opinion. Accepting your responsibility as a member of this community is your fir st choice.
"Demand the most from us, your professors. Defend your own uniqueness. Promote the diversity of your institutions. And, foster the openness and acceptance of society."
University President David P. Roselle opened the ceremony by welcoming members of the Class of 2001 to campus.
He urged students to "seize the opportunities which lie before you today and for the next four years-make it your challenge now to make a difference today and for the next four years. Take advantage of the resources available to you here-the diversity of students and student life activity; the excellence of teaching and research resources including our libraries, laboratories and our computer technologies and networking; the commitment to service and most importantly the dedication of our faculty. You hav e an opportunity to study at a university ranked by US News and World Report as one of the top 25 national public universities."
Also participating in the Convocation ceremony was Robert B. Carroll, professor of plant and soil science, who represented the Faculty Senate in presenting Peters' award.
Michael A. Sauers, '98AS of Newark, president of the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress, addressed the students, urging them to get involved and presented the class flag to class members Brian Eng, '01EG of Wilmington, and Sherri Freeman, '01AG of De laware City. Brian Ezell, '00AS of Wilmington, sang the alma mater. Music was provided by the Delaware Brass.
-Sue Swyers Moncure
Photo by Jack Buxbaum
