Undergraduate Honors Convocation
The Undergraduate Honors Convocation is held during the University's Excellence Day, held each May during Reading Day. The purpose of this event is to recognize the academic and intellectual accomplishments of undergraduates. Of special note is the awarding of the Student Excellence Award, the University's highest undergraduate academic award.
Past Convocation Addresses
2008 – Svi Shapiro (Education)
2007 - Terry Nile (Chemistry and Biochemistry), "Honors - What's the Point?"
2006 - Christopher Hodgkins (English), "Honor Bright"
2005 - James Evans (English), "Yet What is to be Expected from our Pursuit of Happiness?"
2004 - Steve Danford (Physics & Astronomy)
2003 - Tom Kirby-Smith (English)
2002 - Dennis Patrick Leyden (Economics), "40 Years of Celebration"
2001 - Eloise Hassell (Bus. Adm.), "Excellence: A UNCG Tradition"
2000 - Bennett Ramsey (Religious Studies), "Honoring Stories"
1999 - Laurie White (Honors Program), "Honors in Civility"
1998 - Kelley Griffith (English)
1997 - Ron Cassell (History), "The Best Kept Secret..."
1996 - Timothy Johnston (Psychology), "Peace of Mind Guaranteed (Not!)"
1995 - Bruce Caldwell (Economics), "The Academy Under Fire"
1994 - Robert Cannon (Bio.), "Cleared for the Runway, 23ILS Approach"
1993 - Walter Beale (Dean, A&S), "The Varieties of Academic Experience"
1992 - Kate Barrett (EXSS), "The Responsibility of a Legacy of Excellence"
1991 - Aubrey Carlington (Music), "Losing Battles in the Zoo: Excellence as an Obligation"
1990 - Robert Calhoun (History), "James S. Ferguson & Academic Excellence"
1989 - Keith Cushman (English), "Having It All"
1988 - Henry Levinson (Religious Studies), "No Apologies"
1987 - Phillip Friedman (Dean, B&E), "Excellence, Hard Work, & Fun"
1986 - Cheryl Logan (Psychology), "Excellence, Diversity, & Other Roles"
1985 - Murray Arndt (English), "Excellence & Creative Pessimism"
1984 - E. Lewis (Dean, Nursing), "Academic Excellence in the University: Myth or Reality?"
1983 - James S. Ferguson (Chancellor Emeritus), "Wisdom & Leadership"
1982 - Richard Bardolph (Emeritus, History), "A Little Rebellion Now & Then"
1981 - J. Douglas Minyard (Classical Civilization), "Equality, Freedom, & Excellence"
1980 - Tom Tedford (C&T), “Freedom & Excellence: Co-Essentials for a Great University"
1979 - Karl Schleunes (History), "Knowledge & the University"
1978 - Elizabeth Sewell (Religious Studies), "Excellence"
1977 - Walter Puterbaugh (Chemistry), "A Job or a Career, ... or?"
1976 - Joachim Baer (German and Russian), "What is Education"
1975 - Ron Federico (Sociology), "Professors, Students & the Chestnut Tree"
1974 - David Campbell (Center for Creative Leadership)
1973 - Randolph Bulgin (English), "Professional Education in the Liberal Arts University"
1972 - Gilbert Carpenter (Art), "Some Arts in the Arts & Sciences"
1971 - Mark Appelbaum (UNC-CH), "Innovation & Curriculum Reform"
1970 - Panel: Donald Darnell, Carol Saffioti, Danne Smith, Douglas Windham,
Robert L. Miller (moderator), "The Value of the Undergraduate Experience"
1969 - Alan Price (Queens University, Belfast, Ireland), "Equality & Excellence"
1968 - Joseph A. Bryant, Jr. (English), "The Vanity of Freedom"
1967 - Warren Ashby (Religious Studies), "The Student as Artist"
1966 - William Poteat, "Anxiety, Courage & Truth"
1965 - William Poteat, "Learning & Grace"
1964 - William Poteat, "Persons & Places"
1963 - Cornelius Kruse (Philosophy), "The Vocation of the Scholar"