A chance to come home to King Chapel

By Cornell Report Staff

Loren Hiratzka ’66 apologized to the Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary as he pulled out his guitar to serenade the crowd when he accepted the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, but he didn’t need to.

His acceptance speech, punctuated with ’60s anthems and audience members singing along, are part of the beauty of the Homecoming Convocation. The Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award winners are a diverse group—doctors, judges, educators, lawyers, diplomats and more—and they each bring their own personality to the acceptance speeches.

And they aren’t alone. Other award winners talk about how their Cornell education prepared them to achieve their dreams. Their speeches remind alumni from all eras what it means to be a Cornellian, and how the liberal arts education they received is a common touchstone.

At Homecoming 2011, David Korslund ’76, Daniel Brennan ’81, and Tamra Thompson Toussaint ’86 were all given the Leadership and Service Award, and Mikelle Wortman ’10 was given the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

The setting (King Chapel, where else?), along with the sharing of memories that’s such a big part of the convocation, make alumni feel back at home on the Hilltop.