The Knox College community celebrated the start of the 2021-22 academic year at the traditional Opening Convocation ceremony, which featured the introduction of new faculty members and the presentation of awards to students, faculty, and staff.

Jennifer McCarthy Foubert, assistant professor of educational studies, and Antonio Prado, professor of modern languages and literatures (Spanish) received the Philip Green Wright/Lombard College Prizes for distinguished teaching. Foubert was awarded the prize for a member of the faculty who is non-tenured, and Prado was awarded the prize for a tenured faculty member.

Students Charles Washington Broomfield, Rebecca Gadiel, Rosaline Zucker, and Sophia Bowley—all members of the Class of 2022—were recognized for being inducted as juniors last spring into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.

Psychology major Daniel Rodriguez ‘22 received the Elbridge Pierce Prize for scholastic improvement. It is awarded to the senior who has made the greatest scholastic improvement since the end of the first year at Knox.

Public policy major Sophia Bowley ‘22 was selected for the Faculty Scholarship Prize, which is the highest honor that Knox faculty accord to a student. It is awarded to a senior who has exhibited exceptional academic ability while participating significantly in extracurricular activities.

Abby Putnam, director of Health Services, and Ed Anderson, a general maintenance worker in Facilities Services, received the Janet Hunter Prize. These awards—one for a salaried staff member and the other for a non-salaried staff member—recognize outstanding accomplishments and service to the College.

Opening Convocation also included brief remarks from Student Senate President Mujtaba Hassan ‘22, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Danielle Steen Fatkin, and College President C. Andrew McGadney, as well as powerful musical performances by the Knox College Choir, directed by Professor of Music Laura Lane, and Semenya McCord ‘71, adjunct instructor in music.

Photo at the top of the page: The audience gathers on the South Lawn of Old Main to watch Opening Convocation 2021. Photos above: Associate Dean Tim Foster presents the Faculty Scholarship Prize to Sophia Bowley '22; Student Senate President Mujtaba Hassan '22 delivers remarks; adjunct music instructor Semenya McCord sings Just Hold On; Music Professor Laura Lane leads the Knox College Choir in a performance of Bogoroditse Devo.