Knox College formally observed the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year with Opening Convocation, where President Teresa Amott welcomed all new members of the Knox community and expressed appreciation for “the start of a year of learning.” 

By coincidence, this year’s Opening Convocation on September 17 fell on Constitution Day, a federally designated day that commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution. President Amott said that many modern-day constitutional issues affect daily life at Knox: immigration, voting rights, and discrimination among them. 

“In our mission statement, we say we are a community of individuals from diverse backgrounds challenging each other to explore, understand and improve ourselves, our society and our world. On this Constitution Day, let us remember that threats to freedoms and rights undermine our learning community and our efforts to improve ourselves and this world,” she said.

“This year, I challenge each of you to participate in one or more classes, conversations, and acts of civic engagement and activism to expand and protect the rights of all,” President Amott added.

Dean of the College Michael Schneider presented the Convocation Address, titled “Our Global Constitutions.”

“The U.S. Constitution is a global document, both in how it was read by other societies but also how it lives today,” said Schneider, an Asian Studies scholar who discussed the Constitution in the historical context of Japanese and Chinese societies.

“In the end, it’s not the words on the paper. It’s the global conversation about what values matter and what we will do to defend those values on a daily basis,” Schneider said. “Please see your Knox education as an opportunity to understand and participate in the global conversation—and I hope you will keep the conversation going.”

Opening Convocation also included the awarding of prizes to students, faculty, and staff members; a performance by the Knox College Choir, directed by Professor of Music Laura Lane; and remarks from Director of Spiritual Life Monica Corsaro.

“The world is represented [in this room],” said Corsaro. “We all come from different places, holding different values, cherishing different beliefs and philosophies.” Even so, she added, everyone’s path has led to Knox College, “where we, together, become the Knox community.”

The Philip Green Wright/Lombard College Prizes for distinguished teaching are awarded each year to two faculty members—one who has earned tenure and one who is non-tenured. The 2019 prize for a non-tenured faculty member went to Sara O’Brien, assistant professor of psychology, and the prize for a tenured faculty member went to Bright Professor of American History Catherine Denial. 

Also recognized were six students who were inducted as juniors last spring into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society: Adee Athiyaman, Nicole D'Alterio, Michelle Dudley, Sarah Henderson, Sarah Smith, and Janie-Lee Sutherd.

Dudley and Sutherd also were selected for the Faculty Scholarship Prize, which is the highest honor that Knox faculty members give to a student. It is awarded to seniors who have exhibited exceptional academic ability while participating significantly in extracurricular activities.

Alyssa Stetkevych received the Elbridge Pierce Prize, which is awarded to the senior who has made the greatest scholastic improvement since the end of the first year at Knox.

The winners of the Janet C. Hunter Service Awards were Patricia Harden of the Office of Admission and Sandra Gray of the Office of Advancement. The prizes recognize outstanding accomplishments and service to the College by staff members.