When Williston’s seniors and assorted faculty gathered for their annual dinner at the end of the first week of classes—courtesy of our alumni office—our students dressed for the occasion. The full spectrum of colors appeared that much brighter given everyone’s high energy and festive mood, and senior class president Timi Onafowokan hit the perfect note when he told his classmates that individual success lay in each of their hands this year and beyond. He urged his classmates to try new things and to reach out to make new friends—achieving a global experience right here in our community given that we have students from all over the world (I am thinking of recent arrivals from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and the Czech Republic to name a few).

In the two times that I have heard Timi address large audiences, it is abundantly clear that we are fortunate to have this young man leading our student body. Although others who spoke that evening at the dinner emphasized that the Class of 2011 will, in a blink, become Williston’s alumni, we were living in the moment and enjoying the night. The entire crowd then migrated from Birch Dining Commons to the Hill’s house for still more dessert and conversations.