At Convocation, Students are Welcomed to Mayflower Hill with a Call to Action
President David A. Greene tells the Class of 2028 he is looking forward to “an extraordinary year”
On a picture-perfect early September afternoon, Colby officially welcomed the Class of 2028 with a call to action from Margaret McFadden, the provost, dean of faculty, and the NEH/Class of 1940 Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.
During the 207th Convocation on the Lorimer Chapel lawn, she encouraged the new students to spend time in the next two weeks getting to know one faculty member, going to one extracurricular event each week and introducing themselves to one person who’s also attending, to say hello to people walking by on the paths, and to take time getting to know people in their residence hall or in other communities on campus.
Those actions aren’t complicated, but they will help each student begin to feel more at home on campus and start to find the people who will become most important to them, she said.
“I guarantee that over time, what you will find is that this place is full of people who will come to know you, and care about you, and support you, and love you,” McFadden told the first-year students. “Take the time to get to know these wonderful people and let them get to know you. It will make your time here richer and more joyous and fulfilling, and it will make you a better student.”
President David A. Greene told the 630 members of the Class of 2028 that he is thrilled they are now part of the proud Colby tradition and is looking forward to an “extraordinary year.”
“Welcome to this moment,” he said. “We tie these moments to all those who came before us and have gone through similar things, sat in similar seats, had a similar experience. That thread goes through centuries here.”
He also spoke enthusiastically about the strength of the College’s faculty, many of whom wore their academic robes and regalia as they cheered on the new students.
“This is a group of faculty who could be at any college or university in the world, and they choose to be here,” Greene said. “They choose to be here because of the way that this College focuses on being able to teach and do research in ways that are true to who they are. It’s something that’s so important to me. They are extraordinary, in terms of the time they give to their students and their classes, but also in their need to do creative pursuits and scholarly pursuits.”
Building a community
In her address, McFadden touched on the rituals that will mark important moments in the students’ time at Colby, including convocation. She still remembers her own college convocation “mostly because I had no idea what was happening, or why,” she told the incoming class, between the faculty dressed as medieval monks and a professor giving an incomprehensible lecture.
“The whole event was mystifying, and boring, and alienating. Today we are going to try and do better for you because that event was the exact opposite of what convocation is supposed to be,” she said. “A convocation is an assembly of the academic community—students, faculty, and staff—to welcome the newest members of our community and to formally induct them into our culture of teaching and learning. We’re celebrating the beginning of your academic career at Colby.”
The new students come from all over the world, representing 40 U.S. states and Puerto Rico and more than 50 countries, and have many different backgrounds and life experiences.
“They identify with many different races, ethnicities, social classes, genders, sexual orientations. They embrace a wide range of political views and religious beliefs,” she said. “Some come from highly educated families, while others are the first in their families to attend college. They have varied passions and life aspirations.”
In the broader world, many societies are not doing well in working together across differences, and polarization is on the rise. But that’s not the case at Colby, she said.
“It works [here] because we have a shared, collective sense of mission and purpose. It works because we are organized around the conviction that a great liberal arts education is the best possible preparation for a life of meaning and purpose. It works because we know that education transforms people’s lives and futures,” McFadden said. “And it works because people commit to sustaining this community and to working continuously to make it better.”
The power of ‘trail magic’
The students also heard from Bibatshu Thapa Chhetri ’25 and Niamh Lacey ’25, co-presidents of the Student Government Association, who talked about what the community has come to mean to them.
“A phrase that’s resonated with us lately is ‘trail magic,’” Lacey said. “Trail magic refers to those moments of kindness where one stranger helps another without expecting anything in return.”
Chhetri said that it is something in abundant supply at the College.
“Colby is filled with that same spirit of kindness and generosity, and it’s been part of our school’s legacy for generations,” he said. “It’s our hope that you’ll experience and embody the spirit as you engage with the community here … we are fortunate to live and learn in a place where trail magic thrives.”
For that to keep happening, the incoming class must also play its part. Chhetri and Lacey encouraged the students to explore, experiment, make mistakes, and embrace challenges.
“As you chart your courses, one of the best pieces of advice we can give you is to be true to yourselves and the person that you’re becoming,” Lacey said. “Being true to yourself will help you engage more fully with everyone that you encounter.”
Trail magic at Colby, she said, “flows from the bottom up,” meaning that everyone must be involved.
“It’s something that we create together in our attitudes and actions each day,” she said. “Our community thrives when we reach out, share our unique experiences, and support one another on our journeys to becoming the best versions of ourselves. You’re all a part of that now, and we could not be happier to have you.”
