More than 1,300 new students officially began the 2001-02 academic year at opening convocation on Aug. 25. Details and photos...
| Students and their parents gathered “Under the Oaks” for the traditional ceremony that marks their entrance into the Elon community. Trey Bolton, president of the Student Government Association, welcomed the class, and the Class of 2005 was introduced by Provost Gerald Francis and Dr. Smith Jackson, vice president of student life and dean of students. |  |
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In an address to the class, President Leo M. Lambert noted that President Emeritus Earl Danieley, who led the academic procession, was marking the 60th anniversary of his arrival as a freshman at Elon.
President Lambert asked students to take advantage of the many academic opportunities, with a special focus on liberal arts and sciences. “An Elon education is structured in such a way that each student, no matter what his or her major, is grounded in a great liberal arts tradition,” Lambert said. “Our general studies curriculum is designed to help make you good men and women and useful citizens.” |
| As a sign of their entrance into the community, students received an acorn – a symbol of the promise of an Elon education. “Today, we plant the seed – symbolically – that will germinate and grow into that small tree you’ll receive at commencement,” Lambert said, referring to the Elon tradition of giving graduating seniors an oak sapling. “Keep your acorn as a reminder that you have within you everything you need to grow and become strong.” |  |
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