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September 21, 2006
Homeless to Harvard: Liz Murray Challenged and Inspired First Year Students at Convocation Ceremony
More than 1500 students and faculty attended the convocation ceremony. LUBBOCK – Convocation for Texas Tech’s first year students, held in the United Spirit Arena during the first week of classes, was attended by more than 1,500 students and faculty. This was only the fourth annual convocation at Texas Tech since 1964.
Tara Watts, who works at the Center for Campus Life, helped coordinate this year’s event. Watts says convocation is an important event for first year students because it is the only time when the class is able to come together as one and is the first time the faculty is able to welcome all the new students.
The number of students who attend convocation has increased since the tradition was reinstated in the fall of 2003, a testimony to the faculty and staff who put the ceremony together, Watts says.
The featured speaker was Liz Murray, whose life story, “From Homeless to Harvard,” was turned into a Lifetime original movie.
“We chose a speaker who could touch on the transition from high school to college and overcome an obstacle,” Watts says.
President Whitmore addressed the students via a video welcome. Others speakers included Ryan Worley, Student Government Association president and Margaret Elbow, associate professor of sociology. Bill Dean, associate professor in the College of Mass Communications, was master of ceremonies for the evening. Dean was student body president during the last known convocation in 1964.
Murray’s story includes being raised in the Bronx by parents who were drug addicts, living on the streets and dropping out of school. |
Liz MurrayMurray's mother, who suffered from mental illness and AIDS, died when Liz was just 15, leaving her homeless. Despite the incredible hardships, Murray turned her life around. She enrolled in high school and graduated in just two years. She earned a New York Times scholarship, enabling her to attend Harvard University. Her life story inspired a movie, Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, starring Thora Birch and Kelly Lynch, nominated for three Emmy Awards. But rather than dwell on or sensationalize her past, Murray challenged our first year students to work hard. Over the past few years, Murray has shared her life story with people from around the world. Her memoir, Breaking Night, was recently published. |
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