Union College officially kicked off the 2023-2024 academic year and welcomed the incoming class during Thursday evening’s Fall Convocation. Students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in Conway Boatman Chapel and the brick pathway in front of the College, Legacy Walk, for the annual tradition. The program included advice from speakers, as well as the beloved CIRCLES Ceremony, which symbolizes commitment to Union’s core values.

Union’s minister, the Rev. David Miller, began the evening with an invocation asking for God’s presence as the community pledged its “faithfulness and steadfast love” to the new students. Executive Vice President & Provost Dr. Marisa Greer welcomed the crowd and explained that convocation is about affirming Union’s values of celebration, integrity, responsibility, civility, learning, engagement, and spirituality, represented by the word CIRCLES.

Dr. Marcia Hawkins, Union’s president, expressed appreciation for the new and returning students. She noted that Union’s student body comes from 33 different states and 35 different countries. “Union is a safe place to learn about different cultures and different people,” she stated. She then encouraged students to “reach out to each other, learn about each other, and learn what it means to be a thoughtful, caring, global citizen.”

Hawkins then introduced the keynote speaker Dr. Russell Sisson, who is in his 27^th year at Union. Sisson is a professor of religion, history, and philosophy and coaches the men’s and women’s golf teams. He has presented papers at various conferences around the world and serves on the editorial board of Emory Studies in Early Christianity. Additionally, Sisson is a part-time minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Middlesboro.

Referencing both the Bible and the wisdom of golf, Sisson offered students life lessons about growing up. He talked about balancing diligent hard work with being open to opportunities that may arise unexpectedly. Part of growing up, he said, is realizing there are things we have no control over and being willing to “play the ball as it lies.”

Sisson closed his remarks with a reminder that we are all a part of each other’s journeys. He then offered, “If our hearts and minds are open and receptive, God can be part of our journey, too.”

After Sisson’s speech, Union faculty, staff, community members, and student leaders made pledges to support the student body and uphold the CIRCLES values. The pledges were led by Dr. Greer; Dr. Hawkins; the Rev. Thom Brown of the First United Methodist Church of Barbourville; and Skylar Carnes, Student Ambassador Executive.

Next, SGA President Carlos Sainz Barroso led the “Charge to the Class of 2027.” He asked the students if they would make a pledge similar to the one the rest of the Union community had just made to them. “Will you invest mind, heart, and spirit to strengthen these values within you so that they are reflected in all you do and readily apparent to all who come to know you?” he asked. The new students accepted.  

Choral group Union Harmony, directed by Dr. Virginia Gay Gandy, then led the crowd in Union’s alma mater. Miller offered a final blessing, and Dr. Yukiko Fujimura performed the recessional music as the program moved outside for the CIRCLES ceremony.

Freshmen were led along the front of campus and through the center of Legacy Walk, and then lined the inner circle of the drive in front of Centennial Hall. Luminaries placed along the path lit their way, and Union faculty, staff, and returning students lined the outer circle of the drive to face them.

Dr. Hawkins stood at the podium in front of Centennial and led the ceremony. She explained that each new student would receive a CIRCLES medallion around their neck from someone on the outer circle. She said the medallion would demonstrate “our commitment to you and your commitment to us.”

“This medallion represents your commitment to your personal growth as a student, as a global citizen, and as a member of the Union College family,” Hawkins told the class of 2027. “Do you accept this medallion?”

Students accepted, and Hawkins concluded the ceremony with an enthusiastic, “Go Bulldogs!”