Convocation kicks off College's 211th year

Interim President Jim Underwood welcomed students, faculty, staff and parents to a campus committed to being "an oasis for civility" in his address at Union's opening convocation on Tuesday.

Prof. Charles Batson

Also at the convocation in observance of the College's 211th year, Assistant Professor of French Charles Batson received the Stillman Prize for excellence in teaching. Interim Dean of Faculty Therese McCarty quoted student nominations, one of which cited Batson's "deep passion" and "endless energy" as well as his ability to "push his students to rise to the occasion, stretching their skills and knowledge beyond ordinary expectations." 

A member of the Union faculty since 1998, Batson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and has published widely on Francophone literature and the French theater. "My teaching comes from my own excitement and joy in the challenge of engaged learning, and I thank those of you who feed that joy with your engagement," Batson told those assembled in Memorial Chapel on the crisp late summer evening.

Sarah Serbun '06, Dean of Engineering Emeritus Lawrence J. Hollander and Sarah Bills '06

Michelle Elyse Koo '08 received the Phi Beta Kappa Award for general education. Soprano Sarah Bills '06 and mezzo-soprano Sarah Serbun '06 received the Hollander Prize for music, presented by Lawrence J. Hollander, dean of engineering emeritus. The two prize winners performed a musical interlude, "Quando non ho più core," by Handel.

McCarty recognized Dean's List students, whose names will appear on a plaque in Reamer Campus Center. At a pre-convocation dinner at College Park Hall, she welcomed 90 employees who have joined the College in the last year.