President’s Convocation wraps up Red Carpet Days

August 30, 2006

No college is able to teach its students everything about life, but Lyon College will definitely teach them how to handle what life throws at them, the president of the College’s Student Government Association told new students Tuesday, Aug. 29.

The annual President’s Convocation, held at Lyon College’s Brown Chapel was the final event in the College’s Red Carpet Days, which ushered students back to classes for the new term.

President Walter Roettger welcomed the students and the College’s Regional Advisory Board before turning the podium over to Student Government Association President Emily Wilson.

She announced the selection of John Boling and Mary-Margaret Nester as Mr. and Ms. Lyon College for the 2006-07 academic year. Both Mr. and Ms. Lyon are biology majors from Jonesboro.

Wilson said the Mr. and Ms. Lyon College honor is awarded to seniors who embody the ideal characteristics of a Lyon student. The selection process requires that nominees must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Students are nominated by faculty and staff and then are chosen by popular vote of the sophomores, juniors and seniors.

President Walter Roettger spoke at the event and presented several awards to students and faculty. His speech, “Something of Value,” offered thoughts on liberal education and the Lyon College community.

“At its best, Lyon is a purposeful, open and disciplined teaching and learning community. Our openness takes many forms,” he said. “…Here, our openness compliments our purpose of preparing emerging citizens for lives of professional success and personal growth, and for lives of leadership and service.”

The Lyon College community recognizes the legitimacy of differences and celebrates the pluralism of the modern world, Dr. Roettger said.

“Pluralism acknowledges the fault lines of a free society made of fallible human beings and anticipates the perennial give-and-take of the new and the old, the public and he private, the intellect and the heart,” he said. “Pluralism, in short, values competition, compromise and consensus, and is skeptical of claims to certitude and of dogma.”

Each of us has a part to play in this give-and-take, and we’re all in it together, Dr. Roettger said.

“Please take care of yourselves; please take care of one another,” he said. “In doing so, you will take care of us all.”

Dr. Roettger then presented Dr. Frank Winfrey, the Clark N. and Mary Perkins Barton Professor of Management, with the Lamar Williamson Prize trophy. His selection as the Williamson Prize winner was announced at commencement last May. The prize is awarded each year to a Lyon faculty member deemed most outstanding in professional competence, scholarly ability, the exemplification of humane and Christian values and contributions to the community.

Dr. Roettger also presented the President’s Cup, which is awarded each year to a fraternity or sorority judged by a special committee to have demonstrated the greatest achievement in academics, service to others, athletics, the arts and campus life in the previous academic year.

This year, Alpha Xi Delta took the honor and a somewhat emotional Jennifer Ann Cross accepted the award on behalf of the sorority.

Dr. Joel Plaag, assistant professor of music at Lyon, announced plans for Service Day, which is scheduled for Sept. 27. He’s asking for 401 volunteers to participate this year.

Emily Wilson said the best thing students at Lyon learn is that their lives will never be the same.

“You’ll make the best friendships ever, you’ll be involved and you’ll get an education from a school recognized by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review,” she said. “You won’t learn everything about life, but you will learn how to handle where life takes you.”

Photos by Jason Marzewski