Becoming Dickinsonians
![class of 2017 at Convocation](/images/10577131_10153104046807892_3948072620238317766_n.jpg")
Traditions, old and new, welcome first-years into the Dickinson community
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
Walking in a procession toward the steps of Old West, Jordan James 鈥�18 paused to snap a photo of the venerable building ahead. He was about to become the first member of the class of 2018 to sign the college register鈥攁 232-year-old tradition that would mark his official entry into the Dickinson community鈥攁nd he wanted to commemorate the moment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to see the old signatures from 200 years ago,鈥� he said, moments after taking the plunge, as he inspected the original college ledger, on display for the occasion. 鈥淚 like the idea that we鈥檙e not doing an electronic signature. You have to actually be here to put pen to paper, just like the first class did. So you feel more connected to them.鈥�
The sign-in ceremony capped an eventful three days for the first-years and transfers who arrived Wednesday for Orientation, and a memorable week for those who also took part in Dickinson鈥檚 optional Pre-Orientation (Pre-O) programs. New this year, the Pre-O sessions brought new students with like interests together for small-group experiences.
Steven Fitzpatrick 鈥�18 launched his college experience with a zip-line session in the wilderness鈥攁nd squelched his fear of heights in the process鈥攚hile classmate Emily Sprague spent the week caving with 14 new friends. 鈥淚t was a great way to meet new people and make friends for the start of my freshman year鈥攜ou really get to know the people around you,鈥� Sprague said.
鈥淚 made connections with brilliant upperclassmen and professors that I might never have otherwise,鈥� said Courtney Gamache 鈥�18, who took part in the Building Diversity Pre-O program. 鈥淏y the second day, I already felt like I belonged at that table with all of my fellow freshmen.鈥�
Next came Orientation. In addition to attending sessions and meeting with deans to learn the ropes of life on campus, this year all new students participated in the First Year Service Experience, giving them the chance to get to know other students while lending a hand to the local community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great to be a part of things, and to meet people with common interests right away,鈥� said Christopher Trent 鈥�18, whose new friends include first-years and upperclassmen he鈥檚 met through the baseball team and ROTC. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had our classes yet, and we already feel like part of a community.鈥�
A 鈥榣ife-changing鈥� journey
Members of the class of 2018 sign in to the college.
The week closed with an Aug. 31 Convocation ceremony, welcoming new students, faculty and staff members to the campus community and marking the official start of the new academic year. Traditionally held on the lawn in front of Old West, the college鈥檚 oldest building, it was moved indoors due to forecasted rain.
Neil Weissman, provost and dean of the college, formally greeted Dickinson's new administrators and faculty members and recognized the recipient of the 2013 Ganoe Award for Inspirational Teaching, Assistant Professor of French Ian Andrew "Andy" MacDonald. He also congratulated the junior and senior students with the highest cumulative grade-point averages, Junior Sophister Thao Vu 鈥�16 and Senior Sophister Kirsten Dedrickson 鈥�15.
Joyce Bylander, vice president for student life, announced this year鈥檚 Shuman Prize winners, class of 2017 members Emily Vooris and Joojo Ocran, each honored for superior academic performance and outstanding contributions to the college and community. Professor of English Wendy Moffat announced the induction of seniors in the top 3 percent of the class into Phi Beta Kappa, and President Nancy Roseman presented the Howard Lane Rubendall Senior Scholarship to Krista Dionne 鈥�15.
Student Senate President Austin Davis 鈥�15 delivered a brief speech in which he encouraged the first-years to relish the diverse perspectives they鈥檒l encounter, and President Roseman closed the ceremony with the Convocation Address and the ceremonial ringing of the bell.
鈥淵our experiences will alter how you think about the world, and more importantly, how you think about yourself,鈥� she told the students shortly before they headed over to Old West for the signing-in ceremony. 鈥淒ickinson is about to change your life.鈥�
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Published August 31, 2014