After an untraditional start to the school year for many incoming freshman, the result of flood damages to Oak Hall, Augusta University hosted Freshman Convocation in the Christenberry Fieldhouse on Friday, Aug. 25, following the first full week of classes.
As Class of 2027 t-shirts, pins and a special “welcome” edition of the student newspaper were distributed, first year students entered the fieldhouse and introduced themselves to several deans and university officials.
In a “relatively new tradition,” AU Provost and Executive Vice President, Neil MacKinnon, said he believed convocation served as a way to encourage students to stop and appreciate the moment as they take the next big step of starting their adult lives.
“We have them start here with convocation and end with their commencement ceremony, and there’s actually a lot of similarities between the two,” said MacKinnon. “I’ll begin by ringing the Arsenal Bell and then they’ll hear it again when they graduate in four years … they’ll remember the sound of that bell.”
With the help of many student volunteers, college deans and professors, AU welcomed back hundreds of freshmen, and advertised various campus clubs and organizations.
“We have over 300 student organizations here at Augusta University … and 154 academic programs,” said MacKinnon.
Freshmen and new friends, Caroline McCall and Emma Kavanagh, said they enjoyed being exposed to numerous clubs and extracurricular activities, and would possibly join one or two in the near future.
“[Convocation] helps us transition to starting something entirely new, “ said McCall, who is from Evans. “And you can meet new people as well – new friends.”
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While adults expect students to easily merge in a new environment, similar to entering into high school, Kavanagh, who is from Thomson, said the event was a great soft introduction to the different options students have to pique their interests and make new friends.
“It lets you meet people, get a feel for the community and get an idea of what all is being offered and is available to us,” said attending legacy freshman, George Reeves. “I didn’t even know half of this stuff was here for us students, like financial aid, the mental wellness program and the different deans for the majors.”
Reeves, who is planning on pursuing a degree in psychology, said he was excited to have the opportunity to get familiar with staff in the psychology department.
“I think it’s good to meet these people face-to-face instead of just being a number,” he said. “Meeting different professors just builds bonds and engages you more in the classroom because you know who they are, and then when you have a problem they can actually talk to you … I chose to go here, because I wanted to feel seen as a person.”
Kim Davies, dean of AU’s Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said being present at the ceremony was important for every college and program because it allowed staff to invite interested students to specific events created to connect them with professors and academic personnel.
“Honestly, all the faculty here really care about students … so it’s really fun for students to put names to faces, and you can see them light up,” she said. “It also gives them a chance to interact with other as well.”
Reflecting on his own daughter’s advice as a recent freshmen, MacKinnon said he advised students to get involved in AU activities early, to use free, on-campus tools when struggling with new life situations or course material and to prioritize also having fun in college.
“This is four years of your life – enjoy the moment here in Augusta,” he said. “So get involved, have fun and don’t be afraid to seek help.”
Student Government Association President Dee Mallory spoke on the importance of AU’s core values and why each freshman should keep them in mind during their academic journey.
“Here at Augusta University you will navigate a plethora of experiences that will contribute to shaping your perception of this adult life. These experiences, positive and negative, will always contain lessons,” he said. “It is crucial that you take these lessons and apply them to your personal values. Those who find balance in these experiences shape up to be the best leaders of our generation.”
Highlighting compassion, excellence, collegiality, leadership, inclusivity and integrity, Mallory said all six values led to creating his own success and becoming a well-rounded individual. He hopes each especially remembers the power of inclusivity, and the effects it can have on the future.
“Life’s biggest illusion is that of separation, but separation does not really exist – for we are all the same,” he said. “At Augusta University, to be inclusion is to break the veil of separation, to see others as they are and to love them unconditionally.”
Explaining how inclusivity equates to courage, compassion and excellence, Mallory said freshmen need to ask themselves one important question as they begin college.
“At Augusta University ‘an experience like no other’ awaits you, yet are you willing and are you ready to live it to the fullest like no other?” he said.
Following the singing of the university alma mater by staff and students, the convocation ceremony concluded with a second ringing of the Arsenal Bell, and students were then directed to take their official Class of 2027 photo, before moving on to participating in a celebratory color run.
