Featured image via Lyon College / Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Patrick Mulick addresses the class of 2024 during Lyon’s first virtual matriculation ceremony on Monday.
Lyon College welcomed over 200 freshmen and transfer students at the first virtual matriculation ceremony on Aug. 17.
Student Government Association President Kristen Towery greeted the class of 2024 and acknowledged how the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed their final year of high school and their first year of college.
“If I could describe the 2020 year in one word, it would be ‘challenging,’” Towery said.
“You have already shown us that you are a class who perseveres. You inspire me, and you inspire our student body.”
She shared her hope that the new students are able to think of Lyon as home, even though they cannot be together on campus.
“It is not our dorms that make Lyon home,” Towery said. “It is the people and our community.”
Lyon College President W. Joseph King later discussed the importance of the matriculation ceremony, which marks the beginning of students’ journeys at Lyon.
Traditionally, the ceremony includes the signing of the college’s Honor Roll. King said the honor system is the cornerstone of Lyon’s belief in the value of scholarship.
“It’s the system by which the students themselves maintain honor among their peers,” said King. “Today, we will celebrate the honor system and scholarship and what they mean to all of us.”
Luke Shackelford, ’20, the 2019 Mr. Lyon College, congratulated the students for making Lyon the next step in their education.
“You being here today means that you have something to be proud of,” he said.
Shackelford described how Lyon is a learning community that helped him grow as a student, as a friend and as a person.
“By putting in your best effort, I know that Lyon can help you grow in ways that haven’t occurred to you yet and take paths you haven’t even realized.”
He concluded, “Each of you can and will achieve great accomplishments during your time at Lyon. They will all be different, but that’s a good thing.”
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