Randolph starts 2025-26 academic year with Convocation

For Noura Elkhansa ’26, Convocation is a time for reflection, or as she likes to refer to it, ”a moment of stillness before the rhythm of the year begins.”

“For the first-years, this is the beginning; a blank page that’s full of possibility,” she said on Wednesday during the annual event.

“For sophomores and juniors, this is the beginning of a complicated, messy, yet beautiful process of discovering who you are and who you want to be. For seniors, this is the beginning of the end; the final stretch to a journey that has shaped us.”

Elkhansa was among the speakers during the Convocation ceremony, which officially marks the beginning of the new academic year.

She encouraged her classmates to celebrate how far they’ve come and remind each other they’re not alone in what comes next.

“We’ve got each other, and that means everything,” Elkhansa said. “We, all of us, are what make Randolph the strong community that it is.”

The ceremony began with the procession of faculty and seniors from Main Hall into Smith Hall Theatre.

During the ceremony, President Sue Ott Rowlands celebrated the College breaking enrollment records for both new students and the overall headcount.

“Students, you chose Randolph because something here spoke to you,” she said. “Because you wanted more than just a degree—you wanted a community. A place where you will be challenged and supported. Where you can grow, discover, and lead. A place where you can be fully, authentically yourself. Where you can ‘Be an Original,’ as we like to say.”

She also talked about creating a sense of hospitality on campus and how putting people first should guide our actions.

“I hope we will make sure that we treat each other and everyone who ventures onto our campus as human beings with emotions and stories,” she said. “Randolph is a place where learning stretches beyond the classroom, where curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking are part of everyday life; and where differences are not only accepted but embraced. And we are all part of this story.”

During the event, Tim Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented several awards to faculty.

Crystal Howell, Michael Penn, and Aaron Shreve

Education professor Crystal Howell received the Katherine Graves Davidson Award, which recognizes a full-time member of the faculty who has been outstanding in bringing distinction to the College.

Mathematics professor Michael Penn received the Katherine Graves Davidson Scholarship Award, which recognizes the importance of faculty research, scholarship, achievement, and creative activity.

Political science professor Aaron Shreve received the Gillie A. Larew Distinguished Teaching Award, which is given to a member of the faculty who has demonstrated excellence as a classroom teacher and is based on student nominations.

Ott Rowlands credited the Randolph community with the College’s continued growth.

“We are not just growing—we’re thriving. And that’s no accident,” she said. “I believe with all my heart that we are growing and thriving because of our people. Our faculty, our staff, and our students, past and present, have built something real here within the Red Brick Wall.”