Arcadia University honored the scholarly achievements of select students and faculty on March 29, as the community gathered in the Commons Great Room for the annual Honors Convocation. The ceremony recognized departmental and University award recipients and inductees of the University’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

“Students, you have experienced success, and you have also experienced failure, frustration, and challenges that may have, at one time, seemed insurmountable,” said Arcadia University President Dr. Ajay Nair. “And as we see each day, new challenges emerge all around us. But the more challenges that you, and we, face, the more evident it is that your passions, and your talents, and your scholarly pursuits to make this world a better place are so valuable and so needed in the world today and tomorrow.”

The full list of honorees, as well as the Dean’s and Distinguished Dean’s lists, can be found here.

Among the highlights of the event was a speech by student speaker Jay Mehta ’20MEd, ’28EdD, a 6th grade English Language Arts teacher at Upper Merion Area Middle School. He stressed the importance of mentor and mentee relationships in education. 

“We must be strong and true in our capacity and worthiness as mentees; only then can true knowledge be carried forward,” he said. “So, in the spirit of celebrating academic excellence and carrying our shared visions forward, let us be the vessel that can retain the essence of wisdom from our mentors, and we will go far. You will go far. You already are.”

Two faculty members were also recognized for their achievements. First, The Provost’s Award for Outstanding Advising and Mentoring was awarded to Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Dr. Heather McClintock. The Adjunct Faculty Award was then presented to the School of Education’s Lisa Browne ’20MEd.

While the ceremony celebrated the achievements of both students and faculty, it was also a testament to Arcadia’s commitment to supporting students in their pursuits of excellence.

“You are why we are here,” said President Nair. “And you are why we want to continue to explore and discover. Continue to seek knowledge, continue to be creative, continue to innovate to solve problems, continue to pursue your passions, and your view of the world, and of your place in it, will become clearer each day.”