Hillsdale College Hosts Fall Convocation, Presents Academic Awards
Traditional academic celebration remains a hallmark of the liberal arts tradition
Hillsdale, Mich. — Hillsdale College hosted its annual fall convocation on Thursday, November 12, in Christ Chapel. The traditional ceremony brought together the College’s community to celebrate the educational excellence of students and faculty.
“This gathering together of the entire college community for a traditional, academic celebration is an important part of what we do here at Hillsdale College,” said Chris VanOrman, provost.
Larry P. Arnn, president, presented the Fall 2020 Emily Daugherty Award for Teaching Excellence to Timothy Dolch, assistant professor of physics.
Professor of the Year Dr. Benedict Whalen, assistant professor of English, was the convocation speaker. He discussed academics in the midst of a pandemic in his speech, “Poetry, Plague, and Pugilists.”
“Our studies here point beyond and above the quotidian mess of disease and conflict that is the constant companion of mankind,” Dr. Whalen said. “It is not that we dismiss or ignore the suffering that conflict and disease bring. These are real aspects of our existence. But we must never be governed wholly by them.”
Mark Kalthoff, dean of faculty, announced an all-school grade point average (GPA) of 3.503 from spring 2020 as well as the winners of the school’s scholarship cups. Pi Beta Phi won the sorority scholarship cup with a GPA of 3.617, and Sigma Chi won the fraternity scholarship cup with a GPA of 3.473.
Photos of the ceremony and the speakers are available here.