FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2016, 4:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429
Peru, Nebraska- Peru State College hosted Convocation for more than 250 new students today in the
Al Wheeler Activities Center. Faculty and staff also attended the Convocation.
New students were grouped by their intended major – from art to undeclared – and seated
together with faculty from their College 101 courses. The student processed through
a funnel of clapping, enthusiastic faculty.
Each attending student also received a commemorative coin. The coin features the Peru
State College seal on one side and “Class of 2020” on the other.
The Class of 2020!
Speakers included the President of Peru State College, Dr. Dan Hanson; the Vice President
for Academic Affairs, Dr. Timothy Borchers; the President of the Student Senate, Zakarias
Ruei; President of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Kyle Ryan; and Peru State alum, Connie
Edmond.
Dr. Borchers started the event by taking a photo of the gathered students with his
smartphone before saying, “May 20, 2020 is a date you all should have marked in your
calendars. That’s the date we will meet back here in the Al Wheeler Activity Center,
in a very similar setting, to celebrate your graduation from Peru State College.”
“Today we are making a formal commitment to each other to achieve that goal of graduation."
Dr. Timothy Borchers taking a photo of the Class of 2020.
Dr. Hanson added, “Please take advantage of the many staff, faculty and fellow students
who are here to help you get off to a good start. You can see many of them here.”
“Over time you will develop the confidence and skills you need to take complete ownership
of your education.”
Dr. Dan Hanson speaking at Convocation.
Zak Ruei said, “As a student myself, I can attest to the greatness of this place and
the experience it has brought to my life – both academically and personally.” “Now
that you have settled into the residence halls, started navigating your way around
campus and classes have begun, it is up to you to make college into what you want
it to be."
Zak Ruei speaking at Convocation.
Dr. Ryan told the convocation, “When you realize that mindset is more important than talent, your life changes.” “Challenge us - as faculty, as staff, as administrators - ask us hard questions, make us say ‘I don’t know the answer to that, but let’s find out. Make our lives challenging, make our lives hard. Class of 2020, welcome to college.
Faculty attending Convocation.
Connie Edmond is a 1987 graduate of Peru State College where she majored in accounting
and business administration. She served fourteen years as an auditor with the Nebraska
State Department of Revenue before becoming a managing partner at WRL CPA in Lincoln.
Edmond began her address with a story about her first visit to Peru State despite
being enrolled at another university, “I fell in love with the atmosphere. I fell
in love with all 1000 oak trees that are here. I fell love in with the facilities,
the campus, the faculty and ultimately it felt like a place I needed to be.”
Connie Edmond speaking at Convocation.
"I experienced such an amazing sense of support at Peru State College that I could
have stayed here. I am simply amazed at how the tradition of building relationships
with the students continues.” After Edmond’s husband pursued a graduate degree at
Peru State, “I was blessed to be back here in the spring for commencement. What I
didn’t expect was how many students that crossed that stage, to receive their degrees,
embraced Dr. Hanson as if he was their father, their best friend. I was amazed at
the relationships I saw.” “Peru State was truly an incubator for my growth and development.
I left this campus with more knowledge, more wisdom, more confidence and a sense of
love and pride for what I grew to be.” “I have never forgotten that the foundation
for all the amazing things I have been blessed to experience in my life started with
the education that I earned right here at Peru State College. Today is the start of
your amazing future.”
Peru State College plans to hold a Convocation next year for the class of 2021.
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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.
About Peru State College: Nestled in the historic hills of the Missouri River, the “Campus of a Thousand Oaks" is Nebraska’s oldest college and will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2017. Peru State College’s constant commitment to academic excellence has resulted in a unique and innovative mix of online, traditional, undergraduate and graduate programs. Similarly, the college's ongoing student engagement promotes inquiry, discovery and innovation on-campus and across the region. Peru State College is committed to being a good steward of education, students, the region and Nebraska for another 150 years.