(gentle music)
- Hello everyone.
Carleton students, we especially miss you.
And we hope that you and your family
and your friends are safe and healthy.
Obviously, because of the pandemic
we can't gather together in the chapel
for our traditional Honors Convocation.
But we'll proceed nevertheless with a meaningful ceremony
to salute students' significant academic achievements.
There truly is much to celebrate.
Carleton is well known for its academic rigor
even under regular circumstances.
And certainly the learning experience
has been even more complex and challenging this spring.
For our students' proof
that they can navigate rocky educational terrain
with grace, persistence and acuity.
Our faculty are impressed and very proud of you.
Our confidence in what you will achieve
has never been greater.
The awards on today's program
recognized superb grades,
fellowships won, scholarships awarded,
internships landed and completed,
admission to graduate and professional schools,
and outstanding community service and engagement.
All these achievements rest upon crisp and powerful thinking
on the strength of character to aim high
and a willingness to subject your ideas and yourselves
to scrutiny.
Another way of saying this,
is that you have shown intellectual bravery.
You first exhibited bravery
in choosing to come to Carleton.
You correctly trusted that our faculty would push you hard
to be the best student you could be.
You accurately expected
that your fellow Carls will inspire you,
and you understood that membership in this community
will allow you to grow into the best person you could be.
Likewise, your academic success here
has required continued bravery.
You've plunged into the hardest courses
and the most complex topics.
As you conducted research, written and experimented,
you've refused to accept easy or obvious answers,
but instead pursued complicated ideas
to the root of their origins
and to the full extent of their implications.
You've learned to be honest, forthright, and direct
as you engage with others on campus
and in the broader community.
So it's both a privilege and a joy to honor those of you
who have truly mastered such challenges
and demonstrated admirable academic courage.
Kudos to you all.
The Dean of the College, Professor Bev Nagel,
will now recognize important group honors
such as election to scholarly societies.
Then Dean of Students, Carolyn Livingston,
will highlight individual awards and prizes.
(gentle music)
- Carleton has chapters of three national honors societies.
Carleton students whose achievements exemplify the values
of those societies may be elected to membership.
Mortar Board was founded in 1918.
It recognizes students
who have combined distinguished scholarship, leadership
and service to their colleagues and the community.
It promotes service to colleges and universities
and encourages lifelong contributions
to the global community.
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest honor society
in the United States, founded in 1776.
It honors and promotes excellence
in the liberal arts and sciences.
The Carleton Chapter, Beta Chapter of Minnesota
was founded in 1913
and ALEKS to membership those students
who rank in the highest 15% of their graduating class.
Sigma XI was founded in 1886
to honor excellence in scientific investigation
and encourage cooperation among researchers
in all fields of science and engineering.
It has chapters throughout the world.
Election to the Carleton Chapter of Sigma XI
indicates that a student has demonstrated a strong potential
in research in a field of pure or applied science.
Congratulations to all of you
who have been elected to membership in these societies.
We're proud of you.
(gentle music)
- Thank you President Poskanzer and Dean Nagel.
Let me further extend my congratulations
to the students whom we honor today.
It is a privilege and honor
to recognize your many accomplishments.
We all wish we were able to join in this moment together.
Dean Nagel has referenced the online program
and I will ask you to review the list of National
and International Awards and Honors,
and Carleton Awards, Honors and Prizes.
I want to read the list in its entirety
but we'll highlight a few.
All of these awards, honors and prizes
hold a special place at Carleton.
So for some of our National
and International Awards and Honors,
the Davis Projects for Peace provide support
for projects that will promote peace anywhere in the world.
The Fulbright US Student Program scholarships
recognizes graduating seniors, recent graduates,
to support one year of study,
research, creative work or English teaching
in over 150 foreign countries.
The Watson Fellowship supports one year international travel
and independent exploration
on a topic of the applicant's choice.
And now for Carleton Awards, Honors, and Prizes.
The Berglund Social Science Prize
was established in 1962
to honor the memory of James Berglund
and his passion for economics.
It's awarded annually for the best essay or research paper
written in the social sciences.
Dacie Moses Award honors those who best exemplified
Dacie's characteristics of warmth, generosity,
openness, hospitality, humor and acceptance.
Dacie lived most of her life at 110 Union Street
and was involved with Carleton for 75 years.
She opened her home to many Carleton students.
The Mary Weise Endowed Prize celebrates a friend
and role model to many students.
As a campus wide tutoring coordinator,
Mary worked to make graduation a reality to many students.
The prize honors
students who demonstrate the same ideals
that Mary embody, kindness, respect for oneself and others,
and the ability to show determination and commitment
in overcoming challenges, circumstances.
Finally, I draw your attention to our distinguished students
who have received departmental
and program awards, honors and prizes,
and those students who have been awarded
fellowship and internship opportunities this year.
The names of those students
which are printed in your program.
Have a great day, Carls.
Congratulations to the class of 2020
and we can't wait to see you on campus.
(choir music)
