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Lawrence University celebrated the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff at the annual Honors Convocation on Friday afternoon. The event followed a Thursday evening Honors Awards Ceremony and Reception, where 144 students, two student organizations, and five faculty and staff were recognized with awards covering various aspects of university life, from academic honors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music to leadership in Student Life and Athletics.

The Honors Convocation, the third and final convocation of the academic year, highlighted these achievements and celebrated this year’s Faculty Convocation Award recipient, Mark Phelan, professor of philosophy. Phelan has been a member of the Lawrence faculty since 2011, teaching courses in philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science. He delivered the Honors Convocation lecture titled “Knowing Others and Ourselves,” addressing two fundamental questions: how we can better understand others' thoughts and desires and how we can comprehend our own.

“I’m not going to give a definite answer to either question,” Phelan stated. “As a philosopher, I’m contractually obligated to raise more questions than I answer.” He emphasized that while definitive answers may be elusive, pursuing these questions fosters empathy and critical thinking—key elements of a liberal arts education.

Phelan elaborated on the importance of intellectual curiosity within a liberal arts framework. “After all, we are gathered here to celebrate achievements connected to a liberal arts education. The intellectual grounding that the liberal arts offers is expansive... Ideas from one field continually inform developments within another.”

He encouraged students not to shy away from complex questions without easy answers. “Our journey of understanding others and ourselves may not result in definitive answers," he said. "But by embracing the complexity...we will be better able to explore...our own thoughts and the thoughts of others.”

Music at the Honors Convocation was provided by a saxophone quartet featuring students Evan Ney, Gabe Reyes, John Stecher, and Luke Kovscek. President Laurie A. Carter praised their performance as part of what she called “one of the great traditions here at Lawrence.”

Other honored faculty included Kate Zoromski who received both The Babcock Award for outstanding service to students (voted on by students) and the Mortar Board Honorary Award; Jason Brozek who received the University Award for Excellence in Advising; Helen Boyd Kramer who received the First-Year Studies Teaching Award; Allison Fleshman was announced as next year's Faculty Convocation Award recipient.

“To all members of our campus community,” Carter concluded. “Thank you for lifting us up every day...your collective contributions allow Lawrence to shine bright.”