Founders Day celebration to honor campus achievements

There are many on IU’s campus who excel in academics, and these students and faculty members have a day in which to be honored by the University, \nFounders Day. Founders Day reminds attendees of the rich history of this University and honors current outstanding students and faculty members, according to the Student Alumni Association. \nThis year, the teaching award ceremony of Founders Day will be begin at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the Hoosier Room at the Indiana Memorial Stadium, with the student award ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in Assembly Hall. \nAs it was last year, there will be two separate ceremonies on Sunday. The first is a brunch, which will honor distinguished teaching and service. The meal will begin at 11 a.m. with the awards ceremony following. President Adam Herbert will start the ceremony with a welcome, followed by Charles R. Bantz, the executive vice president and chancellor for IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis. He will announce the teaching awards. Susan Williams, assistant director of Media Relations, said that there will be 15 award-winning, University-wide faculty members who will be recognized at the ceremony.\nWilliams also said that future IU president and current Interim Provost Michael McRobbie will introduce the honor students. In addition, Elizabeth Haugh Oates, an honor student through the College of Arts and Sciences, will be speaking on behalf of her student colleagues.\n“It’s a great honor to be speaking as a representative of the student body,” Oates said in an e-mail. “It serves as a reminder that the ways in which we contribute to IU today are history in the making.”\nThe President’s Award, which recognizes faculty members for their outstanding teaching, research or service, will be awarded to Ahdy W. Helmy, associate professor of clinical medicine at the IU School of Medicine. \nBill Elliott, director of University ceremonies, said students are eligible for honor status by meeting the following criteria, including completion of 12 credit hours, either in the spring semester 2005-06, the 2006 summer session or the fall semester of the 2006-07 academic year. These students must also have received a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. \nSarah Cohen, one of five seniors receiving the Elvis J. Stahr award, said in an e-mail that she will be recognized for her work in the community, specifically at Stone Belt, which provides services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. \n“It means so much to me to know that my four years at IU have been noticed,” Cohen said in an e-mail. “It makes me realize that part of me will remain in Bloomington long after graduation.”\nThe students’ ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and will last about 90 minutes. Elliott said the majority of the ceremony is comprised of the students walking across the stage. The honor students will be greeted by President Herbert, the provost and separate deans of the school.\nFollowing the ceremony, a reception will start at 3:30 p.m. and last about an hour. At this time, students can pick up their certificates, which state their honor statuses. The certificates can be picked up by the students and parents in Mellencamp Pavilion. \nEliot said students who are unable to attend the ceremony can pick up their certificate in the recorder’s office after Founders Day.