President Lemons at Carnegie Hall

On March 7, Susquehanna University launched a year-long celebration marking 150 years of excellence in higher education. The celebration commenced with a Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra concert at Carnegie Hall, one of the most celebrated cultural venues in the world - a place synonymous with excellence. You'll read more about this monumental event later in the magazine, but I'd like to share with you some of the reflections I relayed to the audience that evening.

It has been said of Carnegie Hall that all artists who grace its stage are standing on a base of history, anchored by a tradition of excellence. We too are anchored by our own tradition of musical excellence. From our earliest days, music has been an important window through which the world has witnessed the excellence that is Susquehanna University. So it seemed only fitting that we should begin our sesquicentennial celebration showcasing a program that has stood the test of time and continues to flourish at Susquehanna.

This great institution was conceived by a group of visionary leaders inspired by the hope, promise and optimism of the Enlightenment. Since our founding in 1858, Susquehanna has been an institution driven by a core mission. When our founders established Susquehanna, they were committed to making the world a better place through ideas and actions.

This remains our raison d'être, our reason for being. The timeless values of a Susquehanna education connect us to one another, bind us across the generations and renew in perpetuity our commitment to preparing students for lives of achievement, leadership and service in a diverse and interconnected world.

This anniversary also prompts us to consider the legacy we want to create for Susquehanna and for the students and mentors who will follow us. On April 5, I joined with faculty and staff in welcoming more than 400 prospective families to our campus for Accepted Student Open House. I invited those students to choose Susquehanna - not just for four years, but for a lifetime. In a similar way, each of us has an opportunity to build upon the base of excellence that anchors Susquehanna. I see this happening day after day, both on and off campus, as our students, alumni, faculty and staff continuously strengthen that foundation of excellence.

This spring, their good works were recognized with national and international distinctions. The Susquehanna University Central America Service Adventure (SU CASA), led by the Rev. Mark Wm. Radecke, was honored with two awards - the International Best Practice Award for Student Philanthropy and the Bronze Excellence Award - from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). In 2006, the second of these two awards was given to the university's Hurricane Relief Team, led by the Office of Volunteer Programs.

Moreover, we're earning support and recognition for programs we have yet to fully implement. The Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) Foundation has awarded Susquehanna a grant to create a new scholarship program to aid students in studying abroad. The foundation's support, coupled with contributions from faculty and staff to the New Horizons Scholarship for Cross-Cultural Learning, will help students fund the requirements of the cross-cultural experience included in the forthcoming central curriculum.

Faculty and students are standing out both individually and collectively as well. Associate Professor of Communications Randy Hines was selected as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in communications and journalism and will teach this summer at the Altai Academy of Economics and Law in Russia. The German science channel ZDF aired a documentary on the research being conducted by our science faculty and students on the Centralia mine fire. This stellar year in the sciences was also marked by large-scale participation in the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). In all, 36 students and 10 faculty members from various academic departments presented their research.

Athletic teams in their first year in the Landmark Conference also shined brightly. The swim team had its finest season ever. In addition to numerous student athletes earning Player of the Year Awards, several teams were recognized for their academic accomplishments. The men's and women's soccer teams were honored with the National Soccer Coaches of America Team Academic Award. The women's cross country team received All-Academic Team accolades from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and the field hockey team earned the National Academic Team Award from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Three individual athletes - Joe Ramsey, Michael Marr and Ashley Moormann - were chosen as Landmark Senior Scholar Athletes.

As you can see, the university we love has developed a very long reach over the past 150 years. As we prepare for our next century of excellence, it is my fervent hope that the reach of Susquehanna will be extended further and further across the globe.

L. Jay Lemons
President, Susquehanna University