I love the beginning of the Fall Quarter at Tech! Students start arriving before Labor Day to get ready for the many upcoming activities of our campus organizations, Tech band and athletics programs. So many come early just to enjoy being back on campus with their friends. And this week, the campus came to full life as all of our faculty, staff and students returned for the first two days of class on Thursday and Friday. We held our traditional Faculty & Staff Fall Convocation on Tuesday. That program began with recognition of some of our most impactful faculty and staff – awards selected by their peers. I followed that with my annual Convocation Address, where I highlighted many of the previous year’s most significant activities in each of our colleges and divisions. We introduced new faculty and staff and then held a reception for all in the Tonk. The rest of Tuesday and much of Wednesday were spent in planning meetings and visits with students. Wednesday evening, we held one of my favorite events of the year, Freshmen Convocation. Howard Auditorium was packed with freshmen and overflows were able to participate by video in the Tonk. We all welcomed the students to campus and then heard inspiring remarks by alumnus Jamie Adams, SGA President Ben Rice, and our Mayor Ronnie Walker. That was followed with the traditional Tenet Medallion march around the Lady of the Mist and a Pep Rally in Centennial Plaza. I spent as much of the week as I could in walking around campus to meet students and to offer assistance where needed. I also attended an awesome Patriot Day ceremony at the AE Phillips Lab School, a dedication of a Greenway walking/cycling path with the City, and a 5-year celebration of Mortgage Contracting Services (a branch of a company in Ruston founded by one of our alumni.)  Late Friday, I joined Mayor Ronnie Walker in a big pep rally and celebration called “Rock the Railroad” in Railroad Park.  It is thrilling to see the way that our city and campus are coming together in ways that are making this a truly special College Town! Hope you enjoy a few of my favorite pics for the week.