Provost Emeritus Roy T. Stewart delivers the keynote address at Lock Haven University's Founder's Day Convocation.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - On Wednesday, September 2, the Lock Haven University community assembled in Price Performance Center for the LHU Founder’s Day Convocation, marking the official opening of the university’s 139th academic year.

The theme for the fall 2009 convocation was “Building a foundation for your future.” Provost Emeritus Roy T. Stewart delivered the keynote address. Stewart served LHU from 1997 to 2004 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, and served as acting president for the spring of 1999. He explained that throughout his academic career, his guiding principle was always to put students and their needs first. He addressed his remarks to the students, offering five pieces of advice to assist students in building for their future.

First, Stewart urged LHU students to plan for the future. Instead of taking courses randomly and doing assignments half-heartedly, students should focus on goals which will enable them to “Do something that will make you happy.”

Stewart’s second piece of advice was to take advantage of LHU’s general education requirements. “I believe they may be the most important part of your college experience,” he said. He pointed out that “Chief executive officers of large corporations want employees who have skills and knowledge that are gained from these classes.”

Third, Stewart urged the students to try to see the world from the other person’s perspective. “This skill,” he said, “will enhance your reputation with others, make you a better leader, and help you ‘win friends and influence people.’”

Stewart’s fourth bit of advice was to develop a sense of ethics. He said that the students’ sense of ethics and character can “be strengthened and fine-tuned” at LHU. Stewart added, “Our country certainly needs leaders who are honest, sincere, trustworthy, law-abiding, hardworking, decent and good. Be one of those leaders.”

Finally, Stewart advised, “Be financially responsible.” He lamented the fact that “too many in our country are financially naïve and find themselves with large credit card balances, mortgages they cannot afford, lack of savings for retirement [and an] inability to create and follow a budget.” He urged students to let Lock Haven University set them “on the path to financial literacy and security.”

The full text of Stewart's speech is available online at www.lhup.edu/convocation/stewart.htm

Following Stewart’s address, Student Cooperative Council President Christopher Lunden spoke to the students. Lunden noted that LHU has over 140 clubs and organizations that will enable students to develop friendships, leadership skills, and networking contacts that will help them in their career. Lunden urged his classmates to take advantage of these opportunities by getting involved in campus life.

LHU’s Founder’s Day Convocation honors the memory and legacy of Albert Newton Raub, who founded the institution in 1870. The proceedings were officially opened by a declaration from Christopher Dwyer on behalf of the LHU Council of Trustees. In her welcoming remarks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Deborah Erickson paid tribute to Principal Raub. She said, “May we continue to be inspired by his foresight and intellectual energy.”

During the convocation, President Keith T. Miller presented the President’s Campus/Community Service Award to Citizens Hose Fire Company #5, Lock Haven.