Rally
Day: Hats, Smith Medalists and One Big Secret
will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 18, with
a convocation at 1:30 p.m. in John M. Greene Hall featuring
a rowdy crowd of seniors wearing funky hats, and a program
full of musical performances and award presentations.
Also, attend the convocation
and be among the first to know who this year’s Commencement
speaker will be, announced during the program by President
Christ.
Five distinguished alumnae
will be honored at this year’s
Rally Day with the Smith College Medal, which recognizes
alumnae who, “in the judgment of the trustees, exemplify
in their lives and work the true purpose of a liberal arts
education.” This year’s Smith College medalists
are Helen “Penny” Chenery ’43, thoroughbred
horse breeder and racer; Naomi Lynn Gerber ’65, physician
scientist; Kathleen Marshall ’85, choreographer and
musical theater director; Beverly Morgan-Welch ’74,
museum director, educator and historian; and Preeti Simran
Sethi ’92, environmental journalist.
After being presented with their medals, the five recipients
will engage in an on-stage discussion, moderated by President
Christ.
Several Rally Day events will
take placce before the convocation. On Monday, Feb. 16, a
Rally Day History Tea will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in
Neilson Browsing Room. SGA and Nanci Young, college archivist,
will trace the history of the annual tradition.
Also, before the Rally Day
convocation, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, each medalist will give
a presentation related to her field, open to the Smith community,
as follows:
 Helen Chenery
At 9 a.m., Chenery, known in the thoroughbred
community as “The First Lady of Racing,” will
attend the exercise and sport studies class Women in Sports,
taught by Chris Shelton. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Chenery
will attend a student presentation and reception for Smith’s
horse riding students.
 Naomi Hurwitz Gerber
Gerber will attend the class Developmental Biology taught
by Michael Barresi. From noon-1 p.m., she will present “My
Life in Clinical Research: Unlimited Questions, Perpetual
Hope,” in McConnell 103.
 Kathleen Marshall
A renowned choreographer and Broadway director, Marshall
will give an Audition Workshop (open to the public) from
2 to 3:30 p.m. in Theatre 14, Mendenhall Center, followed
by a reception in the center’s Green Room.
 Beverly Morgan-Welch
From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Morgan Welch will give a presentation, “An
Emancipating American History: Black Entrepreneurs of the
18th and 19th Centuries,” in the Smith College Poetry
Center, Wright Hall, followed by a reception catered by Sam’s
Café.
 Simran Sethi
From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sethi, an award-winning journalist
and director of video and audio for Treehugger.com, will
present “Fighting the Good Fight (Making a Life After
Smith” in Neilson Browsing Room.
Also, Tuesday night, don’t
miss the Rally Day Carnival, a Campus Center full of games,
prizes and activities beginning at 9 p.m.
Rally Day began in 1876
as a celebration of George Washington’s
birthday and has since expanded into a two-day series of
entertainment and presentations (read a history of Rally
Day). The event is the first occasion in which seniors will
don their graduation garb, topped off with an assortment
of outrageous hats.
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