Clarke Opens 184th Academic Year with Convocation and Tree Planting
The Clarke University community welcomed new and returning students to campus for the opening of the184th academic year with the annual convocation and tree planting ceremonies on Friday, August 21.
The event began in the Terence Donaghoe Hall with addresses from President Yvonne C. Zimmerman, Ph.D. and Professor of Education and 2026 Meneve Dunham Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient Lee Johnson. Each of the addresses focused on the idea of Freedom, because of its importance as a BVM Core Value as well as acknowledging the country’s 250th anniversary.
“In the BVM tradition, freedom means something more than simply being able to choose. It means being open to God’s love, making loving choices, and becoming who we are called to be at the deepest core of our being,” Zimmerman said. “Your Clarke education will give you knowledge, skills, experiences, and relationships that can change the course of your life. But its deepest purpose is not simply to prepare you to make a living. It is to help you discern who you are becoming, what you have to offer, and how you might use your life in response to the needs of the world around you. That work begins now.”
Clarke Student Association President Jackie Nedved ’27 followed with more powerful advice for the incoming students.
Remember that success is not about being perfect. It is about learning, growing, and embracing every opportunity. Challenge yourself. Ask questions. Make mistakes. Take risks. Celebrate your achievements. And above all else, be true to yourself. The freedom you have today is a great gift. Use it to write your story, to plant your roots, and to grow into the person you want to become.
Convocation concluded with the Tassel Ceremony. This tradition is a symbolic representation of the role incoming students will play in the story of Clarke University. CU Seminar faculty, who work with new students during CONNECT Orientation and throughout the year, presented incoming students with an official tassel. These tassels symbolize the dedication and hard work students will put in as they advance toward their degrees and commencement ceremony.
The Tree Planting Ceremony followed Convocation with Professor Emeritus Norm Freund, returning to campus to provide a history of tree planting. Members of the new class planted their Prairie Stature Oak on the front lawn of the Wahlert Atrium. Representatives from each CU Seminar class were also invited to share a dedication explaining what the tree symbolizes for them. These notes were then planted with the tree and blessed by Director of Campus Ministry Rick Rupprecht.
Learn more about Clarke University’s heritage trees at https://clarke.edu/about-clarke/mission-history/heritage-tree-tour/.