Senior Class President Andrew Parker ’24 Presents Class Shovel at Academic Convocation 2023
Parker also reflected shared words of wisdom for the rest of the student body.
You may or may not know that our Stonehill Archives has 783 shovels in its collection, each and every one donated by the Ames Company.
It is a tradition at Stonehill that the president of the class is given the honor of choosing one of the shovels from the archive, and let me tell you, it wasn’t an easy decision. I visited the archive not once but twice before making my final selection.
The shovel I chose is the “Ames Featherweight Pony.” One reason I chose this shovel is because of its high quality. The Pony Brand signifies the highest quality shovel produced by the Ames Company. High quality is also important to Stonehill. Part of our college’s mission is to provide an education of the highest quality to produce graduates who think, act, and lead with courage to create a more just and compassionate world. Stonehill challenges us to be respectful students, better teammates, kinder peers, and mindful global citizens. These values are encompassed in our school’s motto, “Strong minds, Stronger Hearts.” The historic record does not include a lot more detail about this specific shovel, but the polished blade may indicate its use as a ceremonial shovel, and we certainly have many things to celebrate at this ceremony today.
For one, this year marks Stonehill’s 75th anniversary, and with it, the beginning of the road for the class of 2027. It also signals the end of the road for the class of 2024. For us seniors, what a road it has been! In the face of a global pandemic, our college years began with virtual classes and limited in-person opportunities, but we proved our resilience and capitalized on our unique experience.
My message to my fellow seniors, make the most of our final year together. Develop new interests, join a club, make a new friend. DO YOU!! And to our first-year students; take advantage of your four years! Take this journey to discover who you are, discern your passions, take risks, and no matter what, enjoy what you do. While four years may seem like forever, it truly isn’t. You will be busy with classes, friends, clubs, and by the time you realize it, one of you will be standing where I am today, dedicating a shovel for your senior year in the fall of 2026.