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On November 10, 2006, the Oglethorpe community gathered to
celebrate the university's recent achievements. Highlights from
President Schall's address follow.
--Thank you to our admission staff road warriors, Sara
Carter, Eli Arnold, Cherise Ogle, Philip Peroune, and Katie
Doran. For the past ten weeks, they have visited hundreds of
high schools in dozens of states spreading the good word about
Oglethorpe. More stories about late flights and lost baggage
than you can imagine.
--Thank you to Belle Turner Lynch, our Board Chair who joined
us, both for her own contributions but as representative of the
many great friends and alumni who contributed to make 2006 the
best fund-raising year in the history of the university. The
progress this year continues with a million dollar gift which
will arrive this calendar year to start the Emerson project.
--Our very own Nurse Cathy Grote got front-page coverage in
the AJC’s health care magazine. Where else does the nurse still
make house calls?
--A big thank you to our student athletes and a
congratulations to all of them on seasons well played: women’s
volleyball won three time as many matches this year over last;
women’s soccer two times; men’s soccer set all-time record for
wins; 15 of our men and women soccer players received academic
all-conference awards; and our cross-country team who runs at
seven in the morning had an improved season.
--How about the Oglethorpe faculty rated as the 15th best
faculty in the whole darn country by Princeton Review?
--There have been a series of terrific events this fall,
including Dr. Knippenberg hosting six or so political candidates
for talks. Sister Helen Prejean arrives next week and her
keynote address is at 7:30 Thursday evening in the Conant
Center. Tonight at 8:00 is a command performance by the OU
Singers.
--The Center for Civic Engagement is up and running; our
first-ever director will be named this week; students leave for
New Orleans once again January 7; recent OUr Atlanta trips
include visits to Coke, Chick-fil-A, High Museum, Atlanta
History Center, CNN and the CDC; 15 students visited three
museums in the Big Apple last week with Dr. Loehle thanks to our
partnership with AirTran and two more trips are in the works
this fall; our students are now working in four public and
charter schools, and on and on.
Finally, I awarded the first two Presidential Awards for
Civic Engagement (there was cash involved):
--Jessica Daniel, president of ECOS, accepted the first on
behalf of her student organization that created a student-run
recycling program at Oglethorpe this fall.
--Phil Ponder, coach of men’s basketball team, accepted the
second award for his team’s work with the North Druid Hills Boys
and Girls Club. Our team will receive the John Swain Volunteer
of the Year Award from all 22 Metro-Atlanta clubs this coming
week.
Congratulations to our students, faculty and staff! |
