By Hannah Hanson
Photo Credit: Longwood University.
For the past three years, there has been a COMMunity presence on the main stage at the annual Convocation ceremony. Since 2015, the senior class president has come from Communication Studies majors. Paige Rollins led the class of 2015, Natalie Joseph led the class of 2016, and now Drew Pelkey leads the current graduating class.
Convocation is an exciting Longwood tradition where graduating seniors are able to get dressed in their cap and gown and engage in a ceremony that dates back to the days of Longwood College. President Reveley congratulates seniors for reaching this point in their college career and a featured speaker gives them a few words of wisdom. However, the most exciting point of the ceremony is when the seniors get capped. Here, the senior class gets their caps decorated by a close friend. And when it comes to decorating, the rule is simple: the bigger the better.
Photo Credit: Longwood University.
After the seniors get capped, another speech that is always given at the convocation ceremony is presented by the senior class president. As part of her duties, the senior class president – Drew Pelkey – addresses the class after getting capped.
Pelkey was influenced to run for senior class president during last spring semester because she was so involved with the Student Government Association while in high school. She has been an active member of the Longwood community since she her first year. Her commitment to organizations, internships, and friends shows why the majority of the senior class elected her president..
Pelkey also thanked her COMMunity for preparing her for the role of senior class president, stating, “The Communication department has helped me to get out of my comfort zone and taught me how to effectively lead our senior class. I would not be able to communicate properly with the other officers, senior class, or faculty and staff if I wasn’t a Communication Studies major”.
Drew also contributes the success of her convocation speech to her COMMunity as well. While Pelkey was writing her speech she remembered her first ever communication class, Public Speaking with Dr. Laura Farrell. Pelkey also reached out to Dr. Alec Hosterman who helped her edit the speech.
Photo Credit: Longwood University.
Drew was inspired to write the theme of her speech when looking back at her journey through her years at Longwood. Everyone has their own personal experience at Longwood, but we all go through the same stages of growth and finding who you really are while in college. Each student at this amazing university, from freshman to seniors should reflect on your time here at Longwood and get excited for the future.