The weather was cool, but the spirits of the students, faculty, parents, friends and the many alumnae seated in the Quad, some under woolen blankets, were soaring as the Last Chapel Awards Convocation commenced.

The program included President Christ's State of the College Address, highlighting the many achievements over the past year of students, faculty, and alumnae. (See program and Pres. Christ's State of the College Address for details.) Lauren Budding '93, Alumnae Fund Committee member, announced the generous class gifts of the reuning alumnae, with the Class of 1953 taking the honors with over 60% participation in their fund-raising efforts.

One of the treats of the day was a moving talk by Melanie Trnka '03, a self-proclaimed "painfully shy girl from Minnesota" who was transformed during her years at Smith into the self-confident leader she is today.

Following the conferring of prizes and honors, class president Rye Zemelsky '03 and Alumnae Class President Nisha Gandhi '03 concluded the ceremony by "planting" the traditional ivy to symbolize the connection between the college and its graduates.