Students honored at Founders Day

A celebration of academic excellence echoed through Assembly Hall Sunday. \nFaculty, staff, students, family and friends gathered at the annual Founders Day ceremony to observe the University's birthday and honor those faculty and students who keep alive the vision set by the founders. \n"We pay tribute to the generations of faculty, staff, students and alumni who devoted themselves to making IU what it is today -- one of the world's leading centers of learning distinguished by its dedication to discovery, scholarship and excellence," IU President Myles Brand said.\nBrand presided over a platform party of vice presidents, chancellors, deans and trustees. In his opening remarks, Brand reflected on the University's past and present. \nMore than 180 years ago, the Indiana Seminary opened its doors to 12 students and a professor who taught Greek and Latin.\nBrand said IU is now open not to a "privileged gender and class, but (to) all those who thirst for knowledge." He said technological advancements such as the Internet have had an incredible impact on the University. \n"Yes, much has changed over these years, but at least one thing has not," Brand said. "Since its founding, Indiana University has responded to our citizens' desire for greater knowledge and (a) better life."\nGerald Bepko, IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis chancellor and vice president for long-range planning, introduced faculty members receiving awards for their outstanding teaching.\n"We have dedicated professors who encourage students to learn and succeed in all departments throughout the University. These people play an important role in making our education the quality that it is," said senior Meredith Suffron, IU Student Association president and this year's student speaker at the ceremony. "They encourage us to explore and understand, philosophize and analyze, dream and create."\nSuffron spoke of her experiences at IU; she thanked the University for allowing her the opportunity to attend and thanked family, friends and faculty for their support.\n"Indiana University is truly unique in that it offers so many wonderful opportunities, including the outstanding academic programs, amazing student organizations, state of the art technology and resources, and a diverse community," she said.\nShe quoted Georgia O'Keeffe, saying a person's origin or location isn't as important as what a person accomplishes while at that place.\n"I know what you have been provided with is incredible, but what you have done with it is truly extraordinary," Suffron said.\n Brand presented biology professor Craig Nelson with the President's Medal of Excellence, the highest honor a University president can bestow. Nelson received the medal in recognition for being named U.S. Professor of the Year, a title honoring the most outstanding professor in the country.\nBloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis read a poem by William Carlos Williams that described a "cold, uninviting, lifeless" winter landscape, much like Bloomington's. He suggested that the founders had a vision of what this "desolate place might become."\nThe end of the poem describes the coming of spring, which Gros Louis used as an allusion to the life that students can bring to IU.\n"Nature's spring is also your spring," he said. "May the buds now beginning to awaken within you blossom in ways that will enchant us, uplift us, perhaps even transform us."\nHonors students shook the hands of school deans, Brand and Gros Louis. \nThree students were recognized for other outstanding achievements.\nThe George Mitchell Scholarship recipient was Elisabeth Yu; the Rhodes Scholarship recipient was senior Raju R. Raval; and USA Today's All-USA College Academic First Team award recipient was senior Philip Roessler.\n"Through (honored students and faculty), the hopes and dreams of the founders of Indiana University are realized," Brand said. "IU's days of greatest glory lie not in the past, but in the future"