Approximately 1,900 Marshall University freshmen will walk in one large group from the Huntington campus to the Keith Albee Theatre Friday morning via Fourth Avenue for the annual President’s Freshman Convocation.
The format of the convocation, the purpose of which is to formally celebrate the class’s official start as the class of 2019, will be altered somewhat this year. One change is that there is a theme–“My Marshall Story”–and the theme serves three purposes:
1) to celebrate the diverse background of what each person brings to the Marshall family;
2) to celebrate the stories of those who studied at Marshall and how that changed their lives; and
3) to tie the convocation theme into the UNI 100 curriculum.
Interim President Gary G. White will share his Marshall story with the students.
“I am really looking forward to walking and talking with these 1,900 freshmen who make up the Class of 2019; many of whom are here from countries around the world,” White said. “What a proud time it is for all the parents, no matter if they’re from Logan County or Beijing, China, whose children suddenly are all grown up and soon can officially be referred to as Marshall University students. I can’t wait until Monday when classes start.”
Students will depart the Huntington campus and head to the Keith Albee at about 9:30 a.m., after the class picture is taken. The convocation will get under way at 10 a.m. with a five-minute video presentation, which will be followed by a brief welcome from Duncan Waugaman, Student Government Association president, and Izzy Rogner, vice president.
Next, Kristeena Wright, a biomedical sciences Ph.D. candidate from Richmond, Va, will share her Marshall story and talk about how the university made a difference for her. This summer, she was among 20 young scientists from colleges and universities across the United States who visited Capitol Hill to meet with senators and representatives about the value of biomedical research.
Carla Lapelle, dean of students, will then share her Marshall story, and she will be followed by White.
The convocation is expected to last an hour. It will be livestreamed at www.marshall.edu/it/livestream.