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Convocation welcomes LV students

Ahmed Ispahani, professor of business administration, sits between President Stephen Morgan and Gordon Badovick, dean of the School of Business and Global Studies, for this year's all-school picnic. Ispahani presented a speech titled "Great Expectations," in which he discussed ethics and the global community and offered advice to students, setting the tone for the 2003-2004 school year. / photo by Adam Omernik
Ahmed Ispahani, professor of business administration, sits between President Stephen Morgan and Gordon Badovick, dean of the School of Business and Global Studies, for this year’s all-school picnic. Ispahani presented a speech titled “Great Expectations,” in which he discussed ethics and the global community and offered advice to students, setting the tone for the 2003-2004 school year. / photo by Adam Omernik

by Jessica Rodriguez
Staff Writer

The 113th academic year kicked off with last Friday’s Fall Convocation in Founders Hall Auditorium.

Faculty and staff welcomed more than 400 new students to the University of La Verne.

University President Stephen Morgan opened the convocation with some uplifting words about the University of La Verne.

He also told students that faculty and staff are dedicated to them.

Campus Minister Debbie Roberts followed with the invocation and a prayer, which set the mood for the speech to come.

Professor of business administration Ahmed Ispahani was the keynote speaker for the event.

Ispahani has been with ULV for more than thirty years, and is a senior statesman for the school of business.

He offered wise words for the incoming freshmen and transfer students.

Ispahani started the speech with some words on why ULV was a good choice for them.

“This morning we celebrate new arrivals of freshmen and transfer students,” said Ispahani.

“We are confident that you all have made a good choice,” he added

“This is a place where you establish friendships that last a lifetime,” Ispahani said.

He encouraged the students to get involved and make college the best experience possible.

He encouraged the students to join clubs and organizations. This will help students to meet friends who will last them a lifetime.

“This is a very exciting time, one filled with opportunity,” Ispahani said.

The talk “set the tone for the academic year,” said Eugene Shang. “The message for the year should not only be for students, but should be for the faculty too.”

Ispahani educated the audience on globalization and its effect on the world.

He talked about where the world stands with free trade and offered insights on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“Globalization creates opportunities for everyone,” Ispahani said. “This is a knowledge based economy and time.”

The audience enjoyed the inspiring words on globalization.

“I appreciated the message about Globalization, the world is getting smaller and more connected,” said Brian Armstrong, Leadership Director at ULV.

Ispahani also gave the students his personal recommendations for success in the years to come.

His last recommendation was possibly his most important one:

He suggested that students and faculty ­ even if there is nobody present ­ should still practice ethics and integrity.

“I appreciated the message to all of us to use integrity, and the connection to not only what you are doing, but thinking,” Armstrong said.

Ispahani also revealed the importance of the future.

“Society expects more than the transmission of knowledge,” Ispahani said. “Society looks to college graduates to fill their place.”

Students attending said they left feeling like they had made an excellent choice with ULV, and would enjoy their experience.

Ispahani closed by thanking all those who attended the the Fall Convocation.

“Have a great year at ULV,” he said. “Thank you.”

Jessica Rodriguez
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