2026 Opening Convocation Program

OPENING CONVOCATION THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINTH YEAR

KNOX COLLEGE SOUTH LAWN OF OLD MAIN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 11:00 A.M.

THE KNOX HYMN HAIL TO ALMA MATER

PROCESSIONAL The audience stands for the processional.

GREETING...........................................................................................................Nicole Roman ’27 Student Senate President

INTRODUCTION OF NEW FACULTY MEMBERS .......................................................................Melissa J. Glenn Provost and Dean of the Faculty

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME ......................................................................C. Andrew McGadney President

CONVOCATION ADDRESS..............................................................................Stuart K. Allison Watson Bartlett Professor of Biology and Conservation Director Green Oaks Field Research Center

PRESENTATION OF COLLEGE PRIZES AND HONORS Philip Green Wright/Lombard College Prizes ...................................................Melissa J. Glenn Recognition of Inductees to Phi Beta Kappa ..................................................Mary Crawford ’89 Associate Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Success Elbridge Pierce Prize .........................................................................................Mary Crawford ’89 Faculty Scholarship Prize..................................................................................Mary Crawford ’89 Janet C. Hunter Prizes.................................................................................C. Andrew McGadney

CLOSING .....................................................................................................C. Andrew McGadney ALMA MATER The Knox Hymn ...............................................................................................Carpenter-Weddell Knox College Choir Sung by the choir and the audience The audience stands and remains standing for the recessional.

RECESSIONAL

PRIZES AND HONORS THE PHILIP GREEN WRIGHT/LOMBARD COLLEGE PRIZES The Philip Green Wright/Lombard College Prizes are the highest honor conveyed by the Knox faculty upon its members. The sole criterion is distinguished teaching.

They are awarded each year to one senior and one junior member of the faculty.

The prizes were established by Theodore, Quincy, and Sewall Wright, the sons of Philip Green Wright, a renowned professor at Lombard College during the early 1900s. Lombard College was founded in Galesburg in 1850, and its alumni were formally “adopted” by Knox College when Lombard closed in 1930.

PHI BETA KAPPA Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, recognizes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and promotes the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression. Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, only ten percent of the nation’s colleges and universities have been awarded chapters. The Delta Chapter of Illinois was founded at Knox College in 1916, the first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in a liberal arts college in the state. In addition to seniors who are elected at their graduation, a small number of juniors are elected to recognize their high academic achievement.

THE ELBRIDGE PIERCE PRIZE The Elbridge Pierce Prize for scholastic improvement is awarded each year to the senior who has made the greatest increase in academic performance during the sophomore and junior years. It was established by Mr. Pierce, an attorney in Lakeside, Michigan, who was also a benefactor and Trustee of the College from 1956 to 1960.

THE FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE The Faculty Scholarship Prize is awarded each fall to a senior who has exhibited exceptional academic ability while participating significantly in extracurricular activities. It is the highest honor the Knox faculty accords a student. The prize was established in 1922 by faculty contributions to an endowment campaign.

THE JANET C. HUNTER PRIZES The Janet C. Hunter fund was established in 2000 by contributions from friends and colleagues of Janet C. Hunter, longtime Director of Financial Aid, Dean of Enrollment, and Vice President for Enrollment and Institutional Planning at Knox College. The Hunter Prizes are to be awarded annually to a member of the Knox College salaried staff and to a member of the hourly staff to recognize outstanding accomplishments and service to the College.