Cabinet Corner is a periodic feature of LMU This Week where the university’s executive leaders share their perspectives with the community. The President’s Cabinet will provide updates on initiatives, policies, events, challenges, and areas of interest.
Thomas Poon, executive vice president and provost, writes:
In academia, convocations have long been used to bring members of the university community together to learn about an institution’s progress and strategic direction or to celebrate student milestones and achievements. Convocations abound at LMU. From New Student Convocation in August to the President’s Convocation in the fall, and convocations throughout the year in LMU’s schools and colleges delivered by the deans, we have many reasons to celebrate and convene.
Among my favorite convocations at LMU are the annual Academic Awards Convocation and the Student Service and Leadership Awards Convocation because they are opportunities for the university to recognize graduating students who have flourished within our threefold mission: the encouragement of learning, the education of the whole person, and the service of faith and the promotion of justice. It has always struck me as odd that we hold different convocations to separately recognize student academic and cocurricular achievements. Our students enrich our community through their successes in academics, leadership, and service, and many students excel in multiple categories as we might expect from students who live up to our Jesuit and Marymount heritages.
This year, thanks to a collaborative effort led by Terri Mangione, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, and José Badenes, S.J., associate provost for undergraduate education, we have combined these two ceremonies into one signature event: the Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards Convocation.
The inaugural Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards Convocation will take place on Friday, April 21, from 3-5 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, and I look forward to a robust celebration and to a long and fruitful campus tradition moving forward.
I hope you will join me in celebrating our students and making this an event to remember.
