Penn officially welcomes Class of 2001

Convocation gathered the entire freshman class for the last time until graduation. To the cheers and applause of University faculty and student leaders, this year's freshman class marched together down Locust Walk toward the Palestra last night for this year's Convocation ceremony. The approximately 2,350 students joined together as the Class of 2001, in a ceremony marking their only assembly as an entire class until they graduate four years from now. "Your journey toward Commencement has begun," University President Judith Rodin said in welcoming the freshmen to the ceremony. Traditionally, Convocation is held in Irvine Auditorium, which is currently closed for renovations. Wearing formal academic robes like Rodin, Provost Stanley Chodorow encouraged freshmen to excel in their academic and personal lives and to join their professors in "the knowledge-making business." "Take the opportunity that Penn offers to practice intellectual work with people who are masters at it," he said. Rodin highlighted the accomplishments of the Class of 2001, lauding the class as the most academically accomplished group ever to attend Penn. More than 130 freshmen served as presidents of their high school classes or student councils. The class includes 210 editors of high school newspapers, magazines and yearbooks. Nearly 600 captains of their high school athletic teams and 475 students active in performing arts are also part of the class. And 306 valedictorians and salutatorians, as well as 14 potential Olympians, are among this year's freshmen. The class represents 48 states -- including a student from the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. And members originate from 55 nations, including Iceland, Saudi Arabia and Romania. College freshman Titi Alabi, originally from Nigeria, said Convocation made her "feel good to be here among everyone." "This is one of the only times we are all here together," she said. Rodin listed class standouts, including a trainee for the Olympic table tennis team and a founder of a golf program for inner city youth. "Every one of you is exceptional, remarkable and special in your own way -- if that were not true, you would not be here," Rodin said. She stressed the ideas of Lincoln at Gettysburg, the book of the Freshman Reading Project, urging freshmen to celebrate the "life of the mind," as Lincoln did at Gettysburg. "The best part of your education here comes from taking leaps, making differences and breaking down boundaries," she said. Chaplain William Gipson recited the invocation, Admissions Dean Lee Stetson delivered the presentation of the Class of 2001, and Senior Class President and Wharton senior Andy Kline presented the Class of 2001 flag. The Quaker Notes and University of Pennsylvania Glee Club each performed musical numbers. As a new event this year, University administrators hosted a dessert reception in the Lower Quadrangle immediately before the official ceremony. The reception -- which followed a freshman dinner at Stouffer Dining Hall -- was billed as semi-formal and brought freshmen out to congregate amidst faculty, friends and food. Freshmen had their pick of several desserts, including Chocolate Lovin' Spoonful Cake and Lemon Berry Jazz. Red and blue balloons decorated the tables in the Lower Quad. Many freshmen said they enjoyed the event as a way to wind down and relax after a hectic weekend of orientation activities. "This is kickin'!" Wharton freshman Renos Savvides said. "It's really classy and one of the few times our entire class is all together." Leading the way through campus as part of the formal convocation ceremony, members of the Watson Highlanders played their bagpipes. The bagpipes draw on Penn's traditional connection with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. University faculty and staff members joined administrators in welcoming the Class of 2001 and enjoying the festive -- but stiflingly hot -- atmosphere. "It's great -- except for the weather," School of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Gregory Farrington said, wiping his brow. Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum welcomed the Class of 2001 as the "first class to graduate in the 21st century." And Rodin told the class it is "about to embark on an amazing journey," she said, calling Convocation and Commencement the "bookends to your college experience."