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“Leadership and Ethics in Politics” – Fall Convocation Challenges Students to Work with Others to Achieve Greatness

As one of Ranney’s most treasured and time-honored traditions, members within the Upper School community attended this year’s Fall Convocation entitled “Leadership and Ethics in Politics” in RSPA Panther Hall on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. Also viewing the Convocation in simulcast from the school’s Distance Learning Center were students from the Class of 2016.
 
Fall Convocation opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Student Council President Yasmin Meleis ’12. A member of the Judicial Review Board, Maura Guyler ’12, then gave her opening reflection on the value of rules. According to Maura, rules are the framework from which we learn the universal principles of leadership and ethics.

“At Ranney, these two words are not only important, but they also define the ideals of our culture,” said Head of School Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D in his welcome address. “We need look no further than the people sitting in Panther Hall this morning to find the finest stories of character, leadership and virtue,” he added. “The world in which you are headed craves leaders with moral maturity, and at this school, ethical leaders are developed,” he said. “I often say that at Ranney we teach our students about humanity, and then humanity learns about our students. Suffice it to say, the world needs you now more than ever!”

There to recognize those seniors with an inspiring sense of moral character and commitment to leadership was Dean of Students Noel Delgado, Ph.D. In recognition of their duties as presiding officers, Student Council President Yasmin Meleis ’12, Senior Class President Peter Goldberg ’12, and Judicial Review Board Members Maura Guyler ’12 and Patrick Glodkowski ’12 received their very own Ranney School gavels.

Other students presented with a plaque in acknowledgement of their unyielding commitment to school leadership were Judicial Review Board Alternates Lauren Harris ’12 and Melissa Cantave ’12, Student Council Secretary Jonathan Rosenthal ’12, Senior Class Vice President Walter Cuje ’12, Senior Class Secretary Natalie Cantave ’12, Senior Class Treasurer Melissa Cantave and Student Council Representatives Michael Palmeri ’12, Christopher Schwake ’12, and Craig Slater ’12. With that, each senior also underwent a traditional “vesting” ceremony, marking his or her official ascension to the mantle of leadership. According to Senior Class Advisor Douglas Felter, wearing a personalized Ranney School vest proudly tells all that these seniors attended this school and are better people because of it.

“Education allows us to pursue a side of the human experience that makes us great,” said keynote speaker and Dean of the Honors School at Monmouth University Kevin Dooley, Ph.D. Upholding the school’s longstanding tradition of hosting a prominent keynote speaker at Fall Convocation, Dr. Dooley has enjoyed outstanding success in areas of globalization, comparative European politics and ethics in international relations. He is author of Politics Still Matters: Globalization, Governance, and the Revival of Regional Minorities as well. Dr. Dooley, also Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University, left all seniors with one simple request — that when looking at colleges or universities, they choose a higher educational facility that strives to benefit society at large as well as develop the entire human being. Ranney School and Monmouth University are currently exploring ways to collaborate, including a series of Upper School ethics lectures in the spring.

While President from the Class of 2013 James Soldati reminded each member from the Class of 2012 that the road ahead is not an easy one, he also wished, “I hope that you lead us, your peers, and most importantly yourselves, to greatness.” “Our peers never overlook the manner in which we conduct ourselves,” chimed in Judicial Review Board Member Patrick Glodkowski. “It should be here, within this school, that we begin our ethical education.”
 
During his closing reflection, Head of the Upper School Paul Zanowski encouraged the seniors to reach out to others when striving to make change happen. “When you cannot build a consensus, take action,” he said. “You never know when someone is looking up to you.”

The 2011 Fall Convocation concluded as Dr. Dooley and the seniors continued their ethical discussion over an intimate and informal lunch in the Searle Library. As a sign of appreciation for Dr. Dooley’s strong leadership skills within various positions at Monmouth University, and as a show of thanks for his participation at Ranney’s Fall Convocation, he was also presented with a $1,000 check towards the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
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