黑料专区

On Aug. 18, Dr. Kenston J. Griffin promised 黑料专区 freshmen that they would have fun as he shared ways they could accomplish a winning first year in college. Griffin, the keynote speaker for the University鈥檚 2023-24 convocation ceremony, is the Founder & CEO of , and he delivered on his pledge in memorable fashion.

Dressed in a graduation gown and his trademark bow tie, he darted down from the podium and energetically paced up and down the aisles, shaking hands, slapping palms, and taking selfies.

He humorously acted out the 鈥渘o-pressure鈥� ways that Dr. Scott Bullard, Pfeiffer鈥檚 President, might motivate the freshmen in attendance as he greeted them. And, he invited student attendees to pull out their cell phones and use them to take copious notes as he shared words of encouragement and wisdom.

Griffin鈥檚 advice was plentiful and, though often flavored with humor and interspersed with banter directed at the audience, was serious. He extolled the virtues of prayer: 鈥淚t works for you. It鈥檚 the thing you鈥檝e got to do today to help you be the person you need be for tomorrow.鈥� He reminded everyone that they are important, to not let anyone persuade them otherwise.

He urged the male students to treat their female classmates as if they 鈥渨ere your little sister.鈥� 

鈥淎 gentleman still opens the door,鈥� he added. 鈥淎 gentleman says, 鈥榊es, sir. No, ma鈥檃m.鈥� A gentleman will always pause before they speak. Understand this — this is very powerful, what I鈥檓 about to say — just because it needs to be said doesn鈥檛 mean you always have to say it.鈥�

Griffin reminded the attendees that even if high school was a forgettable experience in which they were bullied, college is 鈥渁 chance to have a fresh start.鈥� It鈥檚 also a place where you can major in one thing and find your passion in another.

鈥淐hange is inevitable,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e just got to make sure you鈥檙e ready for it.鈥�

Griffin rounded out his address with some key takeaway points, one being to have a clear vision: 鈥淲hat do you want to do? Where do you want to be? How are you going to get there?鈥�

He stressed that there isn鈥檛 necessarily anything wrong with being an introvert or an extrovert.

鈥淲hat you鈥檝e got to do is make sure you become the person you need to be and not the person that other people want you to be,鈥� he said.

Another key takeaway: Evaluate the company you keep. Some of you 鈥渉ad a chance to be a 4.0 student in high school, but you hung out with 2.0 friends,鈥� he said.

Employers 鈥減ay for results,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey pay people to show up. They pay for people to go above and beyond. You should get the foundation at this great university to go above and beyond the norm.鈥�

Griffin suggested that a good attitude will make all the difference, as will making the right choices. Often, to not make the right choices is to let down those who sacrificed for you or opened doors for you.

鈥淚f you can live with the consequences of an erroneous decision, go for it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f not, make the correct decision.鈥�

The convocation program also included the announcement of Dr. Ted Royston, an Assistant Professor of English at 黑料专区, as the recipient of the 2022-23 Mary E. Foster Webb and Henry Thomas 鈥淭oby鈥� Webb, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Royston was nominated for the award by members of Pfeiffer鈥檚 student body. He鈥檒l receive a $1000 acknowledgment and an additional $1000 professional development stipend.

Royston began working at Pfeiffer in 2018, having earned several advanced degrees, including a doctorate from Texas Woman鈥檚 University. He has distinguished himself in a variety of ways, not only as a teacher but also as the Chairman of the Faculty Senate and the faculty advisor for The Phoenix, Pfeiffer鈥檚 student-led literary journal. He has also served as a curriculum coordinator for the English department. His research has been presented at numerous conferences, and he has published a rhetorical analysis of science fiction narratives.

鈥淭ed is a just a great overall guy,鈥� said Rev. Douglas A. Hume, Ph.D., a Professor of Religion at Pfeiffer who also chairs its Department of Humanities. 鈥淗is relaxed manner, sense of humor, friendliness, and willingness to always lend a hand make him a wonderful servant leader. I am thankful for him and can think of no currently serving faculty member more deserving of this year鈥檚 Webb award.鈥�

First awarded in 2019, The Mary E. Foster Webb and Henry Thomas 鈥淭oby鈥� Webb, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching was created by the Webb children, Tom Webb and Mary Webb Lathan, in honor of their parents. Mary Webb, who died in 2007, was a teacher for 30 years. The majority of her career was spent as an educator in the Albemarle City School System. A scholarship fund that supports education students at Pfeiffer is also awarded in her name each year.

Toby Webb began teaching and coaching at Albemarle High School in 1947 and went on to become superintendent of Albemarle City Schools in 1966, a post he maintained until his retirement. His success as a football coach at Albemarle High School led to his induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Coaching Hall of Fame. He received an honorary Doctor of Public Administration from Pfeiffer College in 1976.

Dr. and Mrs. Webb valued education, and they made an incredible impact on the lives of their students. In that spirit, the Webb Award is meant to recognize, publicly acknowledge and reward Pfeiffer faculty who are committed to outstanding teaching.