 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honors College Convocation Reflects Academic Excellence
and Diversity
The Florida International University Honors College prides itself on offering the best of two worlds the intimacy of a small liberal arts college combined with the resources of a major state university to the best and brightest undergraduate students. This unique community of student and faculty scholars displayed its academic excellence and rich diversity at the Second Honors College Convocation on Monday, Sept. 30, at FIU University Park. The event began at 2 p.m. with the Parade of Nations and States, which was led by FIU's new marching band, The Band of the Sun. Students, faculty and friends of the college participated in the festive parade, which featured flags from the 57 nations and 27 U.S. states that represent the students' and faculty places of origin. The parade throughout the University Park campus started at the Charles Perry Building and ended at the Graham Center Ballroom, site of the Convocation Ceremony that started at 3 p.m. The Convocation program, which reflected the theme Celebrating
Excellence, included the induction of new faculty fellows into the
Honors College and the presentation of awards to winners of a student competition.
Winning entries, in the categories of poetry, prose, essays, science and
technology, art and multimedia, were displayed at a reception following
the event. The winners this year were as follows.
In addition to student awards, Fellows of the Honors College were also recognized this year. They were as follows: Professor Peter Machonis - Associate Professor Machonis of the Modem Languages Department has raised the environmental consciousness of Honors College students for many years with his Honors Everglades Course and raised the musical appreciation of the audience at the convocation event with his performance of Claude Debussey's La Cathédrale Engloutie on the piano. He is also the director of the FIU á Angers France Summer Study Program. Professor Meri-Jane Rochelson - This year's convocation keynote speaker was also an honoree at this year's Honors Faculty Convocation Dinner held in the FIU Faculty Club on Sunday, September 29th. An Associate Professor of English, Dr. Rochelson grew up in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to her work in the FIU English Department and the Honors College, she is affiliated with the FIU Programs in Women's Studies and Jewish Studies. Professor Robert Hogner - Dr. Hogner is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Business Environment, and the Director of Honors College Service Learning. He also serves as the co-chair of the Academy of Management's Service Learning Task Force and is a member of the American Association of Higher Education's National Service Learning Consulting Group. Professor Bill Beesting - Dr. Beesting is the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Honors Director of Student Enrichment, and a fantastic mentor for Honors College students in their efforts to attend state and national Honors Council conferences. He wrote the proposal for the FIU Academy for the Art of Teaching and along with Prof. Rick Shwartz, another Honors College Fellow, he founded the Journal for the Art of Teaching. He is also a founding national board member of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors. There is also an Honors Service Excellence Award for members of the Honors College staff whose work is a model of service excellence. This year's awards went to the Honors College Information Technology Officer, Juan Lopez, and the Honors College Program Assistant, Rosie Barredo. The Honors Partnership Award is for a colleague outside the Honors faculty and staff who has proven to be an invaluable supporter of the College. This year's awardee was Luis Sanchez, Director of the English Language Institute and a member of the Honors College Advisory Council. Nearly 700 students with majors ranging from physics to hospitality management are currently enrolled in the Honors College, which serves both of FIU campuses. The entire FIU community, as well as family and friends of Honors College students, faculty and staff, were invited to the event. For additional information, go to www.fiu.edu/~honors/convocation or contact Assistant Dean John Kneski. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
