The annual Honors Convocation was held on Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. in the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium.  It was the first official activity of the Scots Day festivities, and the campus, along with family and friends, gathered to recognize the scholastic achievements of Monmouth College students.  

The program included all of the pomp and circumstance of Monmouth tradition. Bagpipes signaled the opening and closing of the event, and the Chorale led the audience in the singing of College songs. The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Fannin provided both the Opening Prayer and the Benediction, and President Mauri Ditzler and vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty Jane Jakoubek offered opening remarks.

Awards were announced by Faculty Senate chair and Edwin Trapp Chair of Business Michael Connell. There were 53 “Special Awards and Prizes,” the majority of which were departmental awards, voted on by the faculty of the individual departments and recognizing exceptional work within the discipline. New inductees for the various honor societies on campus were asked to stand and be recognized, and “named scholarships” for the 2008-2009 school year were acknowledged in the program.

The Thistle Award was a new addition to this year’s line-up. The award was proposed to the College by the Castle and Kilt Society to recognize students and staff who demonstrate “outstanding commitment, dedication, and contribution to Monmouth College.” The first ever student-recipient of the Thistle Award was sophomore Joe Moran. He will accept his award at a later date.

 The Freshman and Senior Man and Woman of the year awards were saved until the end of the convocation. Blue Key president Jessica Thomas presented to the men, and Mortar Board president Eric Hoffer presented to the women. Recipients were chosen on the basis of their service, leadership and scholarship. This year’s winners were Trevor Newton, Freshman Man of the Year; Kayce DeRoo, Freshman Woman of the Year; Ian Van Anden, Senior Man of the Year; and  Katherine Davis and Allison Warren, Senior Women of the Year.  

The event wrapped with an address from the president of the Associated Students of Monmouth College (ASMC), Matthew Faron.

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