Convocation is the highlight of senior year for some students. Longwood is always priding itself on its traditions, and convocation is no exception. In the English language the word “convocation”means nothing more than coming together with a group to convoke, and that simply means “to call together a meeting.”
Here at Longwood, Convocation is a rite of passage, if you will. It's a time to celebrate with your friends, your sisters, brothers and other loved ones. It means to us, that we are one step closer to graduation, one step closer to beginning our lives away from the safe, loving community of Longwood.
When a Longwood student talks about Convocation, we describe it as that event where an underclassman decorates a cap for a senior and then “caps” them in a ceremony that includes a guest speaker and is sometimes seen as the beginning of the commencement festivities.
But, could it mean more than just decorating and hanging out with your younger friends? Could it be more than just an excuse to use all those neat do-it-yourself crafts we learned about so religiously on Pinterest or elsewhere?
Some seniors have never been to Convocation before, and yet some had the honor of capping someone in their underclassman years.
Kate Rowe, a senior Therapeutic Recreation major and member of Delta Zeta sorority, is very anxious and excited to be capped by her little Lindsay Cox, junior Liberal Studies Elementary and Middle
Education major. Neither Rowe nor Cox has ever attended Convocation before.
Rowe is very excited to see what Convocation looks like. She said, “I think that's when it will really hit me that it's senior year.”
Cox noted that her favorite part of Convocation is “seeing how all of the caps are so unique to the person that is being capped. It is interesting to see how creative and crazy they can be.”
Cox, who is making Rowe's cap, will include many things that her big is passionate about, including Delta Zeta's animal, a turtle. Without giving too much away to Rowe who should read this, her cap will also include some memorabilia from sports teams that are important to her.
Like many pairs of students this week, Cox spent about two days working on decorating the cap. Rowe is very much looking forward to seeing the pictures that Cox will put on the cap.
Rowe said, “It'll be like reliving the best parts of college all over again. Plus, the fact that Lindsay made it for me is even better!”
There is no doubt that all of campus will be a flutter with the Convocation spirit as students prepare for the event this Thursday, Sept. 12. This year, Convocation will be held in Willett Hall at 4:00 p.m., as opposed to Jarman Auditorium where it has previously taken place. To top off the ceremony, Longwood’s very own President W. Taylor Reveley IV will be this year’s Convocation speaker.
Just remember that Convocation can be so much more than just organized craft time; it can really bring students together in the spirit of Longwood, in the beginning of the celebrations of commencement.
