Landmark College Welcomes 50 New Students
by Solvegi Shmulsky
PUTNEY, Vt. -- Landmark College held a winter Convocation Ceremony for 50 new students on Saturday, January 24, at 9:30 a.m.. The 200 attendees traveled in light snow to this semi-annual event that launches each academic semester. Convocation—from the Latin “to call together”—is an opportunity for voices from across the College to speak to the incoming class.
“We are happy to have the new students and family members as part of our community,” said Dr. Peter Eden, president of Landmark College. Eden talked to incoming students about the challenges they will inherit in the world. “It’s tricky globally. We need you to do well and get stronger so you can tackle the challenges out there,” said Eden. “We’re relying on you to make the world better.”
Eden also emphasized the importance of relationships as a source of happiness and lifelong direction. “Countless graduates and alumni tell us that relationships made here changed their lives.”
“People here really care,” said student speaker Justin Frankl. In four semesters, Frankl has served the College as president of the Student Government Association, peer mentor, campus ambassador, and employee of the laundry service and gym. Frankl advised newcomers to take advantage of available resources, and his remarks ended with a quote from U.S. President John Quincy Adams, who said, "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
Delivering powerful addresses from an insider perspective in the LD world were College alumna Scout MacEachron and Professor Abigail Littlefield. Both talked about the challenges they faced as students and the turnarounds that are possible for all learners.
“The reason I’m here,” said MacEachron, “is that this place taught me how to believe in myself.” MacEachron graduated from Landmark College in 2012 with an A.A. before earning a B.A. from Barnard College. She now works for Electric Yolk Media in Brooklyn and writes for blogs and websites. “More so than any school I’ve heard of or been to … Landmark can set you up to be who you want to be", she said. “No matter how you imagine yourself 20 years from now—a video game creator, a journalist, a chef—whatever it is you see when you fantasize about your future, this is where it starts.”
Following MacEachron, the faculty address was given by Littlefield. Her professional accomplishments include earning two Master's degrees in the sciences, running the Landmark College Natural Science department, and launching an A.S. degree program in Life Sciences with her colleagues. Littlefield shared anecdotes about growing up as a kid with dyslexia and ADHD, two labels that “only solidified my belief that I was stupid.” The audience laughed as she read comments from her childhood progress reports, chronicling challenges in school. She said her favorite was "Abigail should concentrate less on diverting class and more on her assignments."
The humor in Littlefield’s speech did not lessen its message that “LD” is an artifact of educational systems that do not teach all kinds of learners. When she said, “An education system that allows anyone to feel stupid is a failing one, and we have a right to be taught the way we learn,” the audience applauded.
After the most of the speakers had finished, there was activity on the stage with over 80 students making their way to the front of the auditorium. First, Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Luciani called 32 smiling student leaders to the stage and thanked them for their contributions. Luciani encouraged new students to get engaged with the community.
Closing the ceremony, 50 new faces filed onto the stage to receive their “student coins,” a tradition at Landmark College for incoming students. Explaining the coin and giving the academic address was Dr. Monika Bissell, vice president for Academic Affairs. In remarks that were straightforward, academic, and funny, Bissell said that symbols like the student coins are small things that represent big ideas. “The coins represent an investment in education,” she said, “You have to invest to get the brilliant outcome.”
Bissell encouraged students to think of Landmark College as a symbol, too: “You’re embarking on a great adventure, and Landmark College is the vehicle that will get you from here to the amazing future.” Earning applause from students, she said, “It’s the USS Enterprise, a Lamborghini, a Portkey, or the Tardis.”
After the ceremony, families, students, and Landmark College faculty and staff mingled in the Fine Arts Building foyer, and weekend brunch was served in the dining hall.