Students welcomed family members into their campus lives for the weekend recently, and the college arranged for them a broad taste of activities that students experience.
Family Weekend attracted hundreds of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends to Davidson. Students were eager for shopping trips and a night or two of fine dining. The college invited relatives to experience examples from academic, extracurricular, and athletic sides of a Davidson student's life.
Fall Convocation on Saturday morning showcased the college's commitment to community service through its ongoing association with Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund. Edelman, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony, delivered a passionate keynote address chastizing citizens and politicians for ignoring the needs of children. She called on people and government to curb special interests, deception, the “insatiable” military, false patriotism, hubris, and apathy toward the electoral process. She concluded by urging citizens to pester elected officials to truly put the interests of children first.
Convocation also included presentation of awards to five students, and of the annual Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding teaching to Dennis R. Appleyard, James B. Duke Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics. Appleyard was praised as an extremely organized, clear, fair, non-judgmental, and caring teacher who maintains an ever-open door for students. Because of his reputation for fairness, colleagues have elected him to chair both the Faculty Tenure Committee and the Advisory Council on Finance. He has devoted special attention to the college’s international efforts, and has built an outstanding record of scholarship in the field of international trade theory and policy.
We present snapshots of the weekend's activities to you through the narrative and highlighted links below.
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A time for families to check in with first-year students ten weeks into their Davidson lives… (l-r) Lisa and Murray Horwitz from Chevy Chase, Md., with their son Charles ’08.
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- Many parents arrived early enough to attend classes with their students. Tim and Margeurite Burr took seats in a Spanish class behind son David ’07. They also saw a performance of the fall mainstage drama production, Love of the Nightingale, which co-starred their other Davidson child, Lisa ’05 (r).
- Contrary to the impression that Family Weekend only applies to first-year students, many Davidson parents have taken advantage of the occasion annually in their Davidson child’s life. Juan and Eldaliz Fernandez were back for the second year straight visiting their sophomore daughter, Jennifer.
- Ron and Mary Rordam were escorted around campus by son Gardner ’07.
- Parents had many opportunities to meet professors, both formally and informally. Three generations of Findlay men, Marshall ’07, his father Hal, and grandfather Dave, stopped to speak with Professor of Classics Michael Toumazou (l) at the north entrance to Chambers Building.
- Though skies remained overcast, recent cool weather was turning the leaves, creating a lovely backdrop for a portrait of David Dennis ’08 and his mother, Carolyn..
- Friday afternoon featured several family-friendly events. Student chemists staged a chemistry “magic show,” and the Careers Office hosted a session about its services. The highlight was a discussion of the first year student summer book, Two Souls Indivisible, by the three men who created it. (l-r) Author Jim Hirsch and the two Vietnam-era POWs whose story it recalls, Fred Cherry and Davidson native Porter Hallyburton, made a powerful presentation in Duke Family Performance Hall about the ordeal of captivity and torture.
- The Alvarez College Union was the hub of activities all weekend long. From check-in to bookstore shopping to many of the scheduled sessions, everyone passed through its friendly confines. The Union Café did a booming business, providing a resting place for Paul and Gene Siller and their daughter, Lauren ’08.
- The Smith 900 Room was packed to the balcony late Friday afternoon for a “State of the College” address from President Robert Vagt, who was flanked at the podium by his vice presidents to help with follow-up questions from the audience. They are (l-r) Kristin Bradberry (development), Tom Shandley (student life), Jim Murphy (athletics), Nancy Cable (admissions) and Clark Ross (academics).
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Seniors in cap and gown hear instructions from the marshall before entering Duke Family Performance Hall for Fall Convocation.
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- Kathy Bray Merrell, associate dean of students and organizer of the weekend, was on hand throughout to greet families like the O’Gradys from Princeton, N.J., parents of Meghan ’06.
- Following the session with administrators, families were invited to meet members of the faculty at various areas of the Alvarez Union that were assigned to each department. Ann and Bob Cramer, with daughter Ashley ’08 , met Elizabeth Mills, professor of English (l). Dave and Nancy Brooks and daughter Tricia ’08 spoke with Ruth Ault, professor of psychology. The college dining service laid out a colorful hors d’oeuvres table for those who needed a snack before dinner.
- Following dinner, many families enjoyed a choral and instrumental concert in Davidson Presbyterian Church. Maestro Tara Villa saluted her talented musicians at the conclusion of their performance. Beki Ferguson had a hug for her favorite instrumentalist, daughter Jamie ’06.
- Long before many people awoke Saturday morning, crew team members and their fans were bustling around the Lake Campus for a three-way meet between Davidson, Wake Forest, and the University of South Carolina. The rowers raced along a five-kilometer course on Lake Norman.
- Members of the Parents Council had their annual meeting on Saturday morning as well. College administrator Hariett Kessler consulted with members Nancy and Jay Smith, while Delores Perry Hunter and her husband, John, spoke with a friend.
- Saturday morning was highlighted by Fall Convocation. Peter Krentz, professor of classics, and other faculty members donned academic regalia for the occasion, and seniors like Daniel Chuey and Charles Wood put on their robes for the first time. Other happy seniors were (l-r) Mark Vinson, Drystan Phillips, Felicia Browne (on her twenty-first birthday!), and Trentita Brookshire.
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| President Robert Vagt with Convocation speaker Marian Wright Edelman. The college presented Ms. Edelman with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her work as founder and president of the Childrens Defense Fund |
- Convocation ceremonies were held on the Frazier Stage in Duke Family Performance Hall. In addition to the address from Marian Wright Edelman and presentation of her honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, the college presented awards to five students and the Thomas Jefferson Award to Dennis Appleyard, James B. Duke Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics. Appleyard is pictured here with family members who came to town surreptitiously to surprise him on the occasion. They are (front) grandson and granddaughter Will and Sarah Appleyard, and (back l-r) daughter Karen Appleyard, Dennis Appleyard, son Doug Appleyard, and Doug's wife, Taylor Appleyard. To read Appleyard’s citation, click here. To read Edelman’s citation, click here.
- Five students also received awards at Convocation. The Alumni Association Award for the highest grade point average achieved by a sophomore in studies during the first year at Davidson went to two women, Deborah R. Tarwasokono of Hudson, N.C. and Rebecca J. Taylor of Key West, Fla. The college also presented Goodwin-Exxon Awards for character, sportsmanship, and consideration of others to sophomore Derrick A. Thompson, junior Steven W. Gentile, and senior Jacquin P. “Quinn” Gilchrist.
- As Convocation concluded, Davidson’s 100 international students welcomed the audience into the midst of the annual International Festival, which featured exhibits of culture and history, and samples of food, from the twenty-two nations they represent. Fethi Mohammed of Ethiopia was one of many who dressed in the style of their native lands. All international students welcomed the crowd in their own language at the opening Parade of Nations, and many performed dances or other arts throughout the course of the afternoon. Bob, Rebecca ’07, and Peg Jameson sampled fare at the Israeli table.
- Though the football team was out of town for the weekend, Saturday afternoon featured plenty of other sporting events, including a flickerball tournament on Richardson Field, a field hockey match on the turf field, a club rugby match on the intramural fields, and a club soccer game. Field hockey player Eleanor Cowley ’08 had her picture made with her proud father, John, after the ‘Cats pulled off a 2-1 sudden-death overtime victory against St. Louis. The volleyball team, swimming team, and club Frisbee team also had games or exhibitions during the weekend.
- The arts took center stage, literally, in front of Chambers Building at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Davidson Dance Ensemble presented two performances, including a salsa number by Amy Reid ' 07 and Mark Vinson ’05. Morgan Wright ’07 was warmly welcomed by front-row fans dad and mom Russ and Judy after she finished performing. The college’s three a cappella vocal groups also entertained the large crowd.
Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,600 students. Since its establishment in 1837, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Davidson is engaged in “Let Learning Be Cherished,” a $250 million campaign in support of student financial assistance, academic resources, and community life.
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