Convocation
Reach Beyond Dr. Hawkey’s theme for 2019–20 The Pennington School formally opened its 182nd academic year with Convocation ceremonies on Friday, September 6. Despite cloudy skies, energy brightened the tent on O’Hanlon Green during the ceremony. A brass quintet played as the students entered, by grade, followed by the academic procession of faculty and trustees. The program began with an invocation from the School’s new chaplain, David Hallgren, followed by the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by a cappella group InTouch (seniors Annelise Cornet, Gabriela Montero, Molly Nelson, and Jenna Soliman). Peter J. Tucci, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1979 alumnus of the School as well as a parent of two Pennington alumnae, offered his welcoming remarks. This year marks Tucci’s thirtieth year serving on Pennington’s Board, and it is also his fortieth reunion year. Following that, there were greetings from various School constituencies. Susan Wirsig, director of the Applied Science Certificate Program, teacher of mathematics, and winner of last year’s Otte award for excellence in teaching, represented the faculty. She spoke movingly about pursuing the kinds of tough goals that are so meaningful to achieve. Student speakers also addressed the audience with their personal stories about grit and
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perseverance. Gavin Hart ’20 is this year’s student government president, and eighthgrade student Polaris Hayes represented the Middle School as first in scholarship. Headmaster William S. Hawkey introduced the School’s lifers, offered some fun facts about Pennington, and then called the community to action by offering his theme for this academic year: What’s Your Reach? He related this theme to the challenges and obstacles our nation faced nearly fifty years ago with the mission to send a man to the
Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2019–20
moon. Dr. Hawkey went on to quote words from author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who wrote, “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal. You do not change your decision to get there.” Hawkey challenged the students go beyond standard goals and find a “reach” goal: a goal that requires going outside of one’s comfort zone. He reminded us that it is these “reach goals” that often lead to great discoveries, achievements, and accomplishments. Hawkey’s reach goal for Pennington this year is to become more sustainable in all that we do. In closing, he encouraged the students to develop better self-understanding by learning from mistakes. “I can only hope for all of you that you will learn from your successes and your failures during your time here. Developing individual excellence, the cornerstone of our mission, happens through this process of persevering through good times and tough times... Don’t settle on goals that are easy: pick a goal that is hard—because at this time in your life you have the backing of a great community to help pick you up, challenge you again, and be your cheerleader. Together as a community, we can reach for the moon and achieve anything we put our minds to.”
“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal. You do not change your decision to get there.” —Zig Ziglar
