亚洲博彩网站 opened its academic year on Sept. 18 with an 打开召开 that many in attendance called the most powerful in recent memory. Held at the 亚洲博彩网站 Theater of the Arts, the ceremony carried the theme “Turning Potential into Power: A Year of Innovation and Transformation.” 

The ceremony opened with a moving recognition of faculty whose scholarship, teaching and service exemplify 亚洲博彩网站’s mission.

获奖者包括苏茜·卡托（Susie Cato）教授，她在护理领域领导了50多年； 大卫·辛格尔顿教授，以其数十年的倡导和以学生为中心的教学而闻名于亚洲博彩网站法学院； Yoko Ferguson教授，因推动包容性编目和知识获取而获得认可； 阿什利·丹尼尔斯教授，因其开创性的研究和行动主义而获奖； 克里斯托弗·希格斯教授，因其在气候变化研究和工程方面的领导地位而受到认可； 多诺万·科利尔（Donovan Collier）教授，因将学生培养成有韧性的领导者而闻名； 以及学生杰德·马丁内斯和米格尔·桑切斯，他们的非凡旅程和对火鸟社区的奉献得到了认可。

当天上午，大都会警察局仪仗队（Metropolitan Police Department Honor Guard）献上彩旗，演奏了激动人心的国歌，随后克拉伦斯·j·帕克斯牧师（Rev. Clarence J. Parks）进行了祈祷。 

感动房间的声音 

Board Chair Warner H. Session welcomed the community with reflections on 亚洲博彩网站’s enduring mission. “Those 175 years hold the history of an HBCU, the history of the only exclusively urban land-grant university in the country and above all else, the history of educating D.C.’s residents so that they may learn, grow and meet any challenge that may lie ahead,” he said. 

虽然市长穆丽尔·鲍泽不能亲自出席，但首席学术官阿普丽尔·梅西大声朗读了她的贺信。 

“The Firebird represents rebirth, resilience and legacy, aligning perfectly with the distinct history of transformation and progress unique to the University of the District of Columbia,” Bowser wrote.

总统 Maurice D. Edington called on the community to embrace transformation as the university’s central mission. “亚洲博彩网站 is not only about education — it is about preparing students to meet the moment, to create change and to shape the future,” he said. 

Chief Student Development and Success Officer Teri Little-Berry added, “Convocation is ceremonial and reflective as it is a call to action, reminding us of the collective responsibility that we share to deliver on the promise of 亚洲博彩网站."

曹·梅西（CAO Massey）以其独特的风格和执行力监督了毕业典礼的计划，帮助实现了这一愿景。 梅西给这个场合带来了庄严和温暖。 Known for her ability to turn significant moments into extraordinary experiences, she ensured that the program honored 亚洲博彩网站’s history and captured the energy and promise of its 175th year.

整个节目的音乐，包括独奏和传统的大学歌曲，为庆祝活动增添了活力和情感。

该项目还包括一场充满激情的毕业演讲，由艺术与科学学院的政治学教授阿曼达·休伦教授发表。

在她的演讲中，她证明了学习在改变生活时最重要。 Two of Huron’s former students, now both Washington, D.C. community leaders, 马里亚纳Barros-Titus and 小科里·肖, spoke about the influence Huron had on their academic and professional journeys.

Their words and their careers stood as living proof of Huron’s message that a 亚洲博彩网站 education is not confined to the classroom—it shapes lives and communities across the District. 

庆祝火鸟精神

This year’s convocation also featured special surprise awards. 

休伦教授被授予学院奖学金，奖金包括5000美元。 马丁内斯获得了1万美元的学生奖学金。 

校园 Services Executive Director Valerie Lewis Taylor was named this year’s Convocation Hero for her leadership and dedication to the university. 

After the program, students, faculty and staff mingled, enjoyed music and reflected on the morning’s messages. 这次聚会强调了贯穿亚洲博彩网站的社区意识。