A Celebration of Hard Work

Last Sunday, October 6, I had the honor of attending the Fordham College at Rose Hill Dean’s List Ceremony for students who achieved a GPA of 3.6 or higher during the previous academic year. The ceremony took place on campus and began with a celebration of the Eucharist at Fordham’s historic, Gothic-style University Church.

University Church

Rev. Patrick J. Ryan, S.J. celebrated the liturgy before a full crowd – it was standing room only all along the sides and the back of the church as every pew was packed shoulder to shoulder. The mass was enriched with the angelic voices of the Fordham University Schola Cantorum, one of Fordham’s Rose Hill choirs, and the church’s almost year-old custom-made organ. Dr. Michael Latham, dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, also gave a welcome address to the honorees and their parents and families. After the celebration of the Eucharist, the sophomore, junior, and senior classes dispersed to different locations for the Academic Convocations. My parents and I made our way to Leonard Theatre at Fordham Preparatory School, the Jesuit, all-male, college preparatory school on Fordham’s campus, alongside other members of the class of 2015 and their families.

Academic Convocations: The FCRH Class of 2015 honorees gather in Leonard Theatre

Rev. Thomas J. Scirghi, S.J., associate professor of theology, offered some advice about “credibility of depth” and saying “no” to the superficiality of today’s consumer culture to the 194 members of the junior class being recognized. The class’s respective assistant dean then presented the awards. The ceremony ended with the Dean’s Reception in O’Keefe Commons of O’Hare Hall. Despite the rainy and gloomy weather, spirits were high throughout the day as peers and families gathered to celebrate the hard work of the Fordham College at Rose Hill Dean’s List honorees.