Elon University welcomed freshmen, transfer students and their families with New Student Convocation Aug. 27. Keeping with tradition, and despite construction in the area, the ceremony took place Under the Oaks.

While new students filed into their seats, parents searched for the best place to snap pictures of the speakers and their child receiving their acorn.

As the new class is told every year, the acorn symbolizes the growth that students experience during their time at Elon. The tradition continues when they graduate, receiving an oak sapling after they walk across the stage at Commencement.

“It made me realize that this is a community and that I can find a place here,” said freshman Abigail Krump.

Once the ceremony began, University Chaplain Jan Fuller gave the opening remarks with a welcoming speech about the many questions Elon students will ask about life, spirituality and knowledge. 

SGA president and senior Kyle Porro reflected on his own convocation four years ago. He gave the new students an impression of what they could do with their time at Elon by reminding them that success isn’t instant.

“Bruce Wayne doesn’t just become Batman overnight,” Porro said.

Porro's family was in attendance to support him and his brother, Konnor, who is a freshman this year. 

The Porro family said they're excited to see the similarities and differences in their sons' Elon experiences. Photo by Jackie Pascale

  

Following Porro, Smith Jackson, vice president of Student Life and dean of students, and Randy Williams, associate vice president for Campus Engagement, welcomed faculty and the Class of 2020. Williams introduced five exceptional students in the class of 2020, for reasons ranging from athletic accomplishments to entrepreneurship to academic excellence.

As returning professors and older students expected, Lambert welcomed the new students with the interactive “human bar graph,” asking them to stand in different groups to highlight issues of poverty and opportunities in higher education. He then told students to embrace their time at Elon and to take advantage of the experience. As he has in years past, he compared Elon to a buffet and advised students not to make a bologna sandwich.

“The country demonstration was cool. We got to visualize how big we are in the United States and how big of an impact we can make,” said freshman Sean Ragan.

Closing the ceremony, Lambert reminded students and parents about the expectations professors will have in the classroom, the lack of tolerance for disrespect on campus and the Honor Code.

Finally, the new students left convocation, acorns in hand.

Parents of freshman Stephen Schwab said Elon's Convocation was something people wouldn’t find anywhere else. They said the traditions that are unique to Elon, like the acorn and the "human bar graph," made them feel very comfortable leaving their son in the hands of his professors and peers.

Hear what the Class of 2020 is excited about and what their goals are for 2016-2017. Video produced by Perry Elyaderani and Brooke Wivagg