Reflection Of First-Year Convocation

First-Year Convocation Reflection The Mace is a ceremonial staff symbolizing the rich traditions of higher education. The ceremonial depiction of the Mace originates from the Middle Ages, where it’s use was originally to operate as a weapon. The staff was carried by a well valued elder of the community who held the responsibility to protect and act as a guide for other leaders through the navigation of surrounding busy streets. The Kennesaw State University Mace was designed and hand-crafted by Patrick Taylor, the former chairman of the Department of Visual Arts. The polished bronze handgrip is visually a stylized owl, which is the mascot at Kennesaw State, symbolizing wisdom. The globe seen near the top of the staff is an exemplification of graduates going into the real world. The act of topping the globe is a symbolic tradition of higher education – a lamp of learning, with a flame representing the pursuit of knowledge. The large bronze medallion, as a part of the globe, displays the school’s seal along with festive ribbons streaming from the crown that cradles the globe in representation of the university colors. During the Convocation and Induction Ceremony there is an academic demonstration of faculty dressed in academic regalia, a ritual dating back to the twelfth century when scholars were seen as clerics. Clerics, …show more content…
The actual pin itself visually forms the shape of the Kennesaw Mountains, except it 's all the way rounded. It 's trimmed in a gold toned metal, and in the middle Kennesaw State University is displayed under the Kennesaw Mountains in gold. Engraved above this are the words "lighting paths of love and learning." At the very bottom are two feathers facing opposite of each other. The actual face of the pin has a shiny black section, but everything stated above is raised from the black, and in