Students, faculty and staff celebrated student achievements, philanthropy and engaged learning at the Spring Convocation for Honors at 4 p.m. today in Alumni Gym.

Spring Convocation for Honors recognized students on the Dean’s List and President’s List, faculty, graduate students, Elon Society members and graduating seniors.

Multimedia presentations from ten Elon seniors highlighted the theme of the convocation, “A Celebration of the Engaged Life.” The scheduled student presenters included: Ashley Bennett, Natalie Mae Wu, Beth Overman, Gavin Sands, Brittany Lyn Yelverton, Ian Alexander Hull, Jonathan Chapman, Kathleen Filkins, Ginny Rodgers and Michael E. Brandon. Presentation topics centered around aspects of the Elon engaged learning experience, including study abroad, leadership, internships, service and undergraduate research.

Edna and Doug Noiles, two Elon benefactors, received honorary doctor of human letters degrees at the convocation. The Noiles have contributed generous sums toward the Elon Academy, the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life on campus and the Ashton P. and Vera R. Truitt Scholarsihp Fund.

Dr. David Shi, Furman University’s President since 1994, delivered the convocation address. Shi has written a number of books, such as “Facing Facts: Realism in American Thought and Culture, 1850-1920” and “The Bell Tower and Beyond: Reflections on Learning and Life.” He is also the co-author of a textbook called “America: A Narrative History.”

Some students felt that Shi was less impressive than past speakers.

“I didn’t get much out of his speech,” Christian said. “Since he was not a big name like we usually have for convocation hearing his experiences and perspective were not as insightful as past big name speakers like Colin Powel, John Glenn, and Thomas Friedman.”

News Editor: Alyse Knorr - Photos: Molly McGowan 04/13/07