Pomona College recently marked the official beginning of its academic year with its annual Convocation ceremony, held inside Bridges Hall of Music. The campus community, including faculty members dressed in traditional academic regalia alongside students, staff, and campus visitors, gathered to observe a tradition that spans 110 years. The event kicked off the first week of classes, filling the auditorium with an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the months ahead.

Avis Hinkson, who serves as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students, opened the proceedings by highlighting the renewed energy across the campus. She noted that the arrival of everyone has brought the institution fully alive in the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, meaningful relationships, and endless possibilities.

Musical performances formed a core part of the celebration. College Organist Weicheng Zhao performed the processional and recessional pieces using the Hill Memorial Organ, while Genevieve F. Lee, who is the pianist and holds the title of Everett S. Olive Professor of Music, played a musical interlude between speeches. Joti Rockwell, an associate professor of music, shared that listening to faculty colleagues perform was a wonderful treat and an ideal way to begin the new academic calendar within that historic hall.

During the official welcome remarks, President G. Gabrielle Starr challenged the student body to lean into human ingenuity. She pointed out that while artificial intelligence possesses the capability to organize and remix existing information quickly and at a massive scale, language is not equivalent to actual knowledge, and a prediction engine does not replace genuine insight. She encouraged attendees to focus heavily on cultivating abilities that only human beings can truly master.

Following the presidential address, Student Body President Malu Estoducto, part of the class of 2027, took the podium to encourage her peers to actively shape the character of Pomona College. She reminded everyone in attendance that they serve as valuable and capable parts of the campus community, urging them to make the most of every available opportunity while simultaneously ensuring that their fellow students can do the same. She shared insights from her recent summer internship experience with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, where she contributed to a participatory budgeting initiative—a democratic procedure allowing local community members to decide the allocation of specific public funds. Describing college life as a reciprocal process of transformation, she expressed hope that students would work to improve the institution while remaining open to being changed by it themselves. Harry Yang, a member of the class of 2030, noted afterward that her speech provided a strong sense of courage to embrace transformation in the wider world.

The closing address was delivered by Fernando Lozano, who works as the Morris B. and Gladys S. Pendelton Professor of Economics. His speech was entitled “Comiendo calabaza, frijoles y tortillas con Borges y Coase: Una educación liberal,” which translates to eating squash, beans, and tortillas alongside Borges and Coase: A Liberal Education. Delivered primarily in Spanish with simultaneous English translations displayed on video screens, his talk compared the interconnected growth cycle of corn, beans, and squash to the collaborative environment found within a liberal arts college. He explained that every student individually contributes to the overall educational development of those around them.

To illustrate his points, Lozano highlighted five notable alumni from the institution: John Payton from the class of 1973, Myrlie Evers-Williams from the class of 1968, Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran from the class of 1969, Danny Wilks from the class of 1971, and Onetta Brooks from the class of 1974. He credited these individuals with transforming both the college and the world beyond Claremont in under a decade. According to Lozano, the institutional backing they received during their time on campus allowed them to successfully advocate for inclusive spaces where every future student could thrive. He concluded his remarks by telling the students to discover their own unique narratives through their time at Pomona, but emphasized that they should never attempt to do so alone.

Following the formal program, attendees walked over to the campus dining halls for lunch. August Oliveira, from the class of 2030, shared that the entire campus community had been exceptionally welcoming throughout the orientation weeks, and that Professor Lozano’s speech offered a clear summary of what a liberal arts education truly means based on daily experiences at the college.

For individuals looking into competitive college admissions, mastering holistic evaluation processes and understanding institutional values are crucial steps, much like aligning with Ivy League strategies when preparing applications. To read further details about campus traditions and academic openings, check the official portal.

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