printable versionHennessy cites example of George Washington’s courage in welcome remarks
BY RAY DELGADO
“You have chosen to attend a university that is not only a great educational institution but also a great research institution,” President John Hennessy told new students during his Convocation remarks last week.
Using the example of George Washington's courage and fortitude in leading his military forces during the Revolution, President John Hennessy urged the Class of 2010 to embrace the various challenges that they will be presented with as they explore the paths that will lead them further into adulthood.
Hennessy delivered the keynote address at the university's 116th Opening Convocation held Sept. 19 in the Main Quad, where he officially welcomed 1,649 freshmen, 62 transfer students and 104 international students from 46 different countries.
"As you begin your time at Stanford and plan your four years here, I would urge you to remember that your undergraduate education is much more than a ticket to your first job," Hennessy said. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It is an opportunity to develop the skills and passion for being a lifelong learner in areas related to and outside of your future career and for gathering insights and wisdom that will serve you over the years."
Hennessy's remarks reflected books he has recently read: David McCullough's 1776, a history of the American Revolution and George Washington's pivotal role leading the Continental Army to victory in the face of overwhelming odds, as well as David Hackett Fischer's Washington's Crossing and Joseph Ellis' His Excellency, a biography of Washington. All three works, he said, conveyed similar themes and lessons that remain relevant today.
"Although I do not expect the next four years of your lives to be as difficult as the year of 1776 was for the Continental Army, I do expect you to be challenged and to challenge yourself, stretching your mind and probing deeper into subjects than you have to date," Hennessy said. "I hope you do not shrink from this challenge, but embrace it. Experiment and take intellectual risks. Challenge yourself with courses in disciplines that are new to you."
Other speakers included John Bravman, vice provost for undergraduate education, and Rick Shaw, dean of admission and financial aid. The Class of 2010 was the first admitted under Shaw's watch. "I will always have a special fondness for you because I arrived just one year ago myself," Shaw said. "You are my first Stanford class as a new dean. I am going to pay close attention to your progress because, with my colleagues, I have invested a great deal in believing in your potential to have a sensational and successful Stanford experience."
Shaw assured the incoming class that they all belonged at the university and that in accepting their admission, they should accept the responsibility to conduct their lives in an exemplary way. "By being here today you accept the responsibility invested and vested in you to meet the challenges set before you to the maximum of your ability," Shaw said. "This is a time of significant transition in your life. … You will for a moment stand alone with the awesome responsibility to decide the next steps for yourself as you approach and engage your new Stanford family and your new home."
Bravman asked incoming freshmen to frequently think about why are they at Stanford throughout their college careers, and he implored their parents to support their choices.
"To the parents and families here today, I want you to know that we fully understand that you have entrusted us with your most precious treasure," Bravman said. "Our commitment to you is that we will never betray that trust. We will work ceaselessly to ensure that your sons and daughters are safe, that they have every benefit possible of attending this special institution, and that they are pushed to achieve to the utmost of their abilities. Let us pledge to work together toward these ends, forging a partnership that always has your child's best interests at its core."
Hennessy cited Freshman and Sophomore Seminars as examples of the university's commitment to pair students and faculty on a more intimate and mutually beneficial basis, and he encouraged students to look for those interactions.
"Alumni have told us that getting to know a faculty member personally was one of the most rewarding components of their Stanford experience, and the university has invested heavily over the past 15 years to create many more such opportunities," he said. "Get to know the faculty outside of the classroom as well. While I love giving an exciting lecture to a packed classroom, my greatest enjoyment comes when a student visits my office to talk about my research, to ask career advice, to talk about a topic that she is interested in or to seek help on some topic he cannot grasp."
Hennessy also encouraged students to incorporate an overseas study program into their academic career and pursue independent research opportunities or courses of study that could lead them down different career paths. The university has worked hard to create opportunities, he noted, but it is up to the students to pursue them.
"Students, I hope your time here transforms your lives, just as it has transformed the lives of so many alumni," Hennessy said. "And, finally, I hope your time here will help to provide a foundation on which you will make your contributions to a better world."