Some 4,000 students—most of them brand new to the University—kicked off the fall semester with an Aug. 23 convocation celebration on the lawn west of Old Capitol. The event revived the tradition of introducing students to each other, to UI leaders, and to their school.

Speakers included first-year student Simone Renault of Clinton, Iowa, who vied for the speaking slot in a University-sponsored YouTube contest.

Dressed in full academic regalia, UI President Sally Mason urged students to make the most of their Iowa experience and invited the crowd to a block party at the President’s Residence immediately following the event.

The convocation is one of several related initiatives that aim to build community and help new students, in particular, feel at home at the University.