FINNEY YEARS
Traditions Take Hold on Campus Honorary Degrees
Champlain College started the tradition of awarding honorary degrees at the 129th Commencement ceremony in 2007. Annually, two or three honorees receive degrees in recognition of their exemplary work as community members. Some past recipients include former Vermont Gov. James Douglas, author Chris Bohjalian, business executive Ed Colodny, philanthropists Holly and Robert Miller, and Lois McClure.
Samuel de Champlain Statue
When the class of 2013 arrived on campus in August 2009, a statue by Jim Sardonis of Samuel de Champlain, the founder of New France and Champlain College’s namesake, was in place between the IDX Student Life Center and Alumni Auditorium. The College had just celebrated the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s trip on Lake Champlain during the summer of 1609. For the past five years, students have passed the statue of de Champlain looking through a spyglass toward the lake. It is rumored that touching Sammy D’s foot is good luck.
SENIOR TRUSTEE DINNER The Senior Trustee Dinner in April brought together 201314 SGA President Chelsea Hutchings ‘14, President-elect Donald J. Laackman, 2013-14 SGA Vice President Brandyn Csorgo ‘14, and President David F. Finney.
Spyglass Gifts at Commencement
In 2013 the College began presenting each graduate a spyglass. After each student receives his or her diploma from the president, a Student Government Association representative hands the graduate a replica of Samuel de Champlain’s spyglass. Inscribed on the spyglass is Champlain’s Latin motto, “Audeamus,” or Let Us Dare. As students start their careers, the spyglass will be a token of their college achievements displayed in their offices. ClearLake Furniture in Ludlow, Vermont, designed the cherry spyglasses, which the Student Government Association funds each year.
NATIONAL RANKINGS Champlain College continues to rise in the national college rankings and was included in the Princeton Review “Best Colleges” guide beginning in 2012. U.S. News & World Report named Champlain the “Top Up and Comer” College in the Northeast in 2014.
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Champlain View | Spring 14
GRADUATION SPYGLASSES Samuel de Champlain-inspired wooden spyglasses are now distributed to graduating seniors, a tradition that began at the 135th Commencement in 2013 and continued this year.
ORIENTATION BARBECUE For some Champlain first-year students, the first real glimpse of the President and his vice presidents is at the Orientation barbecue for families in the courtyard. Having the College’s administrators out flipping burgers is something you find at very few colleges or universities.