{"id":134331,"date":"2021-08-20T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T16:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=134331"},"modified":"2021-08-20T18:47:36","modified_gmt":"2021-08-21T00:47:36","slug":"class-of-2025-convocation-welcomes-new-students-into-mountain-lion-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=134331","title":{"rendered":"Class of 2025 Convocation welcomes new students into Mountain Lion Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"740\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I47w3lCyxm4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chancellor Venkat Reddy, Interim Provost Kelli Klebe and Student Government Association President Emily Gregory welcomed more than 1,800 members of the first-year class at the annual Convocation ceremony, which marks the official beginning of students\u2019 undergraduate careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students tuned into the ceremony from their Gateway Program Seminar classes, which took place Aug. 19 and 20. The classes are an introduction to college-level academics, campus resources and student life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;This is an exciting morning for you, as we officially welcome you to campus, and as you attend your very first day of class as an undergraduate student,&#8221; Interim Provost Klebe told student. &#8220;Today, you will have a chance to think deeply about your hopes and dreams for the next four years.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Chancellor Reddy encouraged students to look forward into the future, he also reminded them of how far they have already come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We&nbsp;continue to live&nbsp;through extraordinary&nbsp;times. Each of you&nbsp;has&nbsp;already&nbsp;faced difficulty in your lives and in your education.&nbsp;But&nbsp;you rose to the challenges you faced,&nbsp;again and again,&#8221; Reddy said. &#8220;Now, you are beginning&nbsp;this&nbsp;new chapter equipped with the skills and resilience you need to succeed.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-750x420.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-134354\" width=\"350\" height=\"196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-750x420.png 750w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-2048x1147.png 2048w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.08-AM-678x381.png 678w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Chancellor Reddy formally welcomed first-year students to the starts of their academic journeys at UCCS.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reddy also asked students to remember what brought them to UCCS in\nthe first place: their hopes for the future. He directed students to write down\ntheir goals and aspirations on a virtual dream board \u2013 whether they are\nserious, silly or a mixture of both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above all, the Chancellor encouraged students to intentionally create community with their peers and support systems at UCCS. As he reflected on the start of his own academic journey, which took him from India to the United States in pursuit of higher education, Reddy shared that the lessons learned over the past 18 months will carry students far into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;<meta charset=\"utf-8\">We discovered&nbsp;during the pandemic&nbsp;that the connections we have with the people in our lives can sustain us, despite great difficulty,&#8221; Reddy said. &#8220;Our relationships are the most important things in our lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI did not succeed in earning my master\u2019s&nbsp;degree, or my doctorate degree, alone. I leaned on my family.&nbsp;I leaned on my friends. Their strength gave me strength, and that helped me succeed. I&nbsp;know&nbsp;that each&nbsp;of you is gifted to achieve the impossible, because someone believes in you.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM-750x415.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-134355\" width=\"350\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM-750x415.png 750w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM-1536x850.png 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Screen-Shot-2021-08-20-at-8.55.53-AM-2048x1134.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Student Government Association President Emily Gregory recited the UCCS Student Creed.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gregory concluded the ceremonies by leading students in reciting the UCCS Creed. The UCCS Creed embodies the collective values of UCCS students \u2013 purpose, respect, integrity, determination and excellence \u2013 while promoting a positive campus culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Chancellor Reddy spoke for all of campus in his closing remarks: \u201cTo the newest members of the UCCS community, congratulations, and welcome to the Mountain Lion Family!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Convocation marked a highlight of the welcome week for new students, also known as Clyde\u2019s Kickoff. As the week wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 22, DisOrientation Week \u2014 the first week of classes \u2014 will officially begin. To learn more about these events and others,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mlc.uccs.edu\/events\">visit Mountain Lion Connect<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Chancellor Venkat Reddy, Interim Provost Kelli Klebe and Student Government Association President Emily Gregory welcomed more than 1,800 members of the first-year class at the annual Convocation ceremony. <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=134331\" title=\"Class of 2025 Convocation welcomes new students into Mountain Lion Family\">(More)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":134371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,49],"tags":[51],"class_list":["post-134331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-campus-announcements","tag-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Convocation-Featured-Banner.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1mBpJ-yWD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134331"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134370,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134331\/revisions\/134370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/134371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=134331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=134331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}