Berea Stories
Seabury Center, 3:00 p.m., August 31, 2017
Lyle Roelofs, President of Berea College
The public is invited to join the entire Berea College community in marking the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year at the College’s Opening Convocation on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 3 p.m. in the Seabury Center. The program is free.
The theme for this year’s opening convocation will be Berea Stories.
“With 1,600 students, it has been said that Berea consists of 1,600 great stories—stories of challenge, accomplishment and triumph,” said Berea College President Lyle Roelofs. “Those wonderful stories of Berea students share space in our book with the stories of all other Bereans, who, together, constitute our wonderful community. Opening Convocation 2017 is a celebration of all those stories and how they connect and reinforce one another.”
The convocation will feature remarks by President Roelofs, representatives from the College community—including student, faculty, staff, alumni, and retiree speakers—who will briefly share their own Berea “stories,” as well as special music.
Music selections will include Seasons of Love (from “Rent”) performed by the cast and directors of the summer course “The Complete Performer” under the direction of Mark Calkins and Liza DiSavino, faculty from the Berea College music department.
This annual event opens the College’s year-long convocation series of lectures, symposia, concerts, and performing arts productions. The series includes the Stephenson Memorial Concerts and offers outstanding scholars, artists and leaders. Their presentations enliven the intellectual, aesthetic and religious life, and make important contributions to the students’ educational experience at Berea College.
Convocations also provide shared intellectual experiences for students, faculty, and staff, thus enriching the College’s vibrant academic community. See the Convocations site for the schedule of all convocations this academic year. All convocations are free and open to the public. Those unable to attend on campus can watch the convocation live at: https://livestream.com/accounts/5135608/events/7657366