Adrian College Celebrates the Ribbons of Excellence
posted 3/30/09
First Annual Ribbons of Excellence Day to take place on Wednesday, April 8

ADRIAN, Mich. - On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, the Adrian College campus and surrounding communities will convene to celebrate the scholarly and creative activities of Adrian College students with the First Annual Ribbons of Excellence Day. The purpose of this day is to encourage students to engage in the acquisition of new knowledge outside the classroom, and to act as a catalyst for student/faculty collaboration.

In 1887, the graduating seniors at Adrian College presented a cane in the form of a shepherd’s crook to the officers of the junior class. Symbolic of leadership and carved with the Latin motto for “No victory without work,” the cane has been handed down every year by the graduating class. Each class has also attached a ribbon to the cane with the names of its graduates listed on the ribbon.

In 2007, the academic community at Adrian College adopted the idea of the ribbons to represent its standards of excellence. From the long-standing tradition of the ribbons attached to the shepherd’s crook at graduation, these new ribbons of excellence have been developed to support the College’s mission statement. Just as the Latin inscription on the cane suggests, these ribbons of excellence cannot be achieved without hard work: caring for humanity and the world; learning throughout a lifetime; thinking critically; crossing boundaries and disciplines and developing creativity. The College has defined these ideas below.

Caring for humanity and the world includes making socially responsible decisions, providing service to local and global communities and interacting positively with persons of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Learning throughout a lifetime consists of continuing to ask important questions, pursuing knowledge in each new age and remaining open to new learning experiences.

Thinking critically is developing critical habits of the mind, exploring multiple points of view; raising thoughtful questions and identifying problems and solutions.

Crossing boundaries and disciplines includes developing literacy in multiple fields, personifying the liberal arts experience and making connections across disciplines.

Developing creativity is engaging in creative arts, developing creative talents and skills and recognizing and employing figurative expression.

Ribbons of Excellence Day 2009 will be held all day long in various parts of campus on Wednesday, April 8, beginning at 8:30 A.M. and ending at 6:45 P.M. There are numerous presentations being given in relation to the ribbons of excellence described above.