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Presidential Scholars welcom Class of 2008, celebrate new academic year
By Megan Armstrong '06
On Sept. 15, Villanova’s Presidential Scholarship recipients gathered
with administrators, faculty and staff for a reception at Dundale on the
West Campus. The event both welcomed the Class of 2008 Presidential Scholars
and provided an opportunity for the entire program to celebrate the
beginning of new academic year.
This year, Villanova greeted 17 Presidential
Scholars
 in
the Class of 2008, who join 66 upperclassmen Scholars. The application
process for this distinction entails demonstrated academic achievement, as
well as a written application and interview. Each year, the Presidential
Scholarship Program, guided by Dr. Jane Morris, director of Undergraduate
Grants and Awards, selects scholarship recipients whom they envisage will
develop into academic and community leaders. According to Dr. Edwin Goff,
director of the Honors Program and chair of the Presidential Scholarship
selection committee, Villanova’s Presidential Scholars “have exercised their
considerable talents in the full range of leadership positions throughout
our campus and have brought highly favorable attention to the University in
their successful pursuit of
Nationally Competitive Fellowships and post-baccalaureate programs of
study.”
Attending the event were the Rev. Edmund J. Dobbin,
O.S.A., University president; Dr. Helen Lafferty, University vice president;
Dr. John R. Johannes, vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Edwin Goff;
Dr. Terry Nance, assistant vice president for Multicultural Affairs; Honors
Program staff and additional administrators, faculty and staff.
The event commenced with hors d’oeuvres in the
vestibule of Dundale, where veteran Presidential Scholars were introduced to
Scholars of the Class of 2008.
 Dr.
Goff then presented Fr. Dobbin, who addressed the reception attendees. Fr.
Dobbin commented on the Presidential Scholarship itself, identifying it not
simply as an award for academic achievement, but more appropriately an
incentive to deepen the culture of the learning environment that is the
Villanova community. He recalled that past and present Scholars have
contributed substantially to the University by becoming actively engaged in
this learning environment, and closed by thanking the students for their
important presence and contributions to the University.
Following Fr. Dobbin’s address, Jeanne Hoffman ’05,
Presidential Scholar, enlisted the support of her peers for an opportunity
to contribute to the University. With the Honors Program staff, she intends
to form a student committee to restore the overgrown land behind Dundale to
the flourishing garden that once existed. Jeanne hopes the finished project
can be dedicated to the Sept. 11 victims. |
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