2024 New Student Convocation| Event

New Student Convocation is a long-standing Lake Erie College tradition that marks the beginning of your journey at a liberal arts college.

Parents are welcome to attend the ceremony, which is inside Morely Music Hall. Students will line up with the dean of their school and walk to Morley. Students will be handed a red carnation, President William McKinley’s favorite flower. On almost every public occasion, he could be seen with one in the lapel of his coat. How the red carnation became the 25th president’s favorite flower has ties to Lake Erie College.

When President McKinley was the governor of Ohio, he was in Painesville at the Garfield Club, celebrating the birthday of President James Garfield. The senior class of Lake Erie Seminary, composed of eight women, elected then-Governor Mckinley as an honorary member of their class and pinned their class flower onto the lapel of his coat. Then, when he was nominated for president, the class of 1894 sent their honorary member a telegram of congratulations and a large box of red carnations.