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Furman celebrates beginning of new school year


Last updated September 3, 2015

By News administrator

Read Dr. Henderson’s convocation address

Biographical information for award winners

Furman President Elizabeth Davis congratulated Robert Buckman (left) and Rev. James Russell Dean II after receiving their honors.

Furman President Elizabeth Davis congratulated Robert Buckman (left) and Rev. James Russell Dean II after receiving their honors.

More than 1,400 faculty, staff, students and members of the Greenville community gathered in McAlister Auditorium Thursday as Furman University officially celebrated the beginning of the 2015-16 school year with its annual fall convocation.

In addition to the convocation address by Furman education professor Scott Henderson, the university awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to trustee Robert Buckman, presented the Richard Furman Baptist Heritage Award to Rev. James Russell Dean II ‘86, and introduced the five seniors who were named Furman Fellows for the current academic year.

Furman president Elizabeth Davis presided over the ceremony.

In his address, “Aspects of Transformation,” Henderson stressed the importance of receiving an education that not only informs, but also transforms.  And he said no one should expect such a transformation to take place overnight.

“We are living in an era when policymakers and elected officials often set highly unrealistic educational goals,” Henderson said.  “They want our children—both individually and collectively—to make dramatic gains—to travel great academic distances—in very short periods of time.  I assert that we make a fundamental mistake if we think that a transformative education—a change in inner character—can occur rapidly.”

The five Furman Fellows for the current academic year are Jordan Brown of Gastonia, N.C., Jennifer Duer of Edison, N.J., Samuel Hill of Richmond, Va., Jonathan Kubakundimana of Rwanda, and Kristen Marakoff of Fort Mill.

The 2015-16 Furman Fellows are (from left to right) Jordan Brown, Kristen Marakoff, Samuel Hill, Jonathan Kubakundimana and Jennifer Duer.

The 2015-16 Furman Fellows are (from left to right) Jordan Brown, Kristen Marakoff, Samuel Hill, Jonathan Kubakundimana and Jennifer Duer.

For more information, contact the Furman News and Media Relations office at (864) 294-3107.

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