Convocation Program

Convocation Program

Prelude

Grand Jeu, from Suite du premier ton
Pierre Du Mage (1674-1751)
Dr. Daniel Schwandt, University Organist

Procession of the Faculty*

Cortège, op. 171, no. 9
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Dr. Daniel Schwandt, University Organist
Celia Barnes, Associate Professor of English and Faculty Marshal

Welcome Week Musical Selection

Take What You Need
Reena Esmail (b. 1983)
Welcome Week Choir
Directed by Dr. Shannon Gravelle, Assistant Professor of Music and Co-director of Choral Studies and Dr. Phillip Swan, Professor of Music and Co-director of Choral Studies

Text:
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take Time
Take care
Take heart
Take hope
Take a step
Take a chance
Take courage
Take charge
Take a stand
Take pride
Take joy
Take pause
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take what you need

Land Acknowledgement

Zindzi (Zee) Lucas ’26

Welcome, Announcement of the 2025-2026 Convocation Series and
Introduction of President Laurie Carter

Dominica Chang, Margaret Banta Humleker Professor of French Cultural Studies and Professor of French, and chair of the Public Events Committee

Matriculation Convocation Address

We are Lawrence. And that includes you.
President Laurie Carter

Closing Words

Terra Winston-Sage ’00, Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life and University Chaplain

Recessional*

Fanfare and Chorale
Calvin Fuller (b. 1943)
Dr. Daniel Schwandt, University Organist

*Please stand for the processional and the recessional.

Speaker Biography

President Laurie Carter

Notices

• As a courtesy to the artists and to those in attendance, please be aware that sounds such as whispering and the rustling of programs and cellophane wrappers are magnified in the hall.
• Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices during convocations.
• Convocations may not be recorded, photographed, or broadcast without the written consent of the speaker and Lawrence University.
• Bag lunches for students, faculty & staff will be available to go outside of the Lawrence Memorial Chapel (or inside the Music-Drama Center lobby if inclement weather) following the Convocation.
• Please refrain from talking during all musical selections.

• An American Sign Language interpreter will be available and located on the stage.

  

Next Convocation

University Convocation: Astead W. Herndon, national politics reporter for The New York Times, political
analyst for CNN, and host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up”
Friday, January 23, 2026, 12:30 p.m.

For more information, please see the Convocation Series.

We collectively acknowledge that Lawrence University is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Menominee and Ho-Chunk people.