Academic Convocation Welcomes First-Year Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas officially welcomes home thousands of first-year students with an academic convocation, to be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, in Bud Walton Arena. This year’s event includes a keynote speech by Dave Van Horn, a University of Arkansas alumnus who coached the university’s baseball team to the College World Series this past year. Burger Bash, a party with food and entertainment, will follow convocation in The Gardens near Bud Walton.

“Academic Convocation shows students that the faculty, staff and administrators are a united team, willing and available to help them succeed during their University of Arkansas experience,” said Shelia Burkhalter, director of First Year Experience programs.

The event is held in Bud Walton Arena to signify that this is also where students will be during commencement. Introducing first-year students to upper-level faculty, staff and administrators, academic convocation is designed to celebrate first-year students’ entry into the university, and it gives the Division of Academic Affairs an opportunity to formally introduce students to the academic experience at the university.

To get students excited about opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty outside of the classroom, the winners of the John A. White Award for Faculty-Student Collaboration are showcased and featured in short videos. The award winners this year are Solar Splash from the College of Engineering, and Tears for Life from the Sam M. Walton College of Business. These were chosen as the best projects in which faculty members collaborated with undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to the videos, the ceremony will feature speakers welcoming first-year students to campus, including Chancellor G. David Gearhart and Provost Sharon Gaber. The keynote speaker is Razorback baseball coach Dave Van Horn. Van Horn coached the Razorbacks to the College World Series this past year and in 2004. As a student at the University of Arkansas in the 1980s, Van Horn earned All-Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year and was recognized as a Most Valuable Player. He has been the Razorbacks baseball coach for 7 years.  The Associated Student Government president, Mattie Bookhout, will lead the students in the University Pledge as each student dons the University of Arkansas pin.

At the conclusion of the ceremony students will walk to The Gardens where they will find plenty of food, fun and friends at Burger Bash.