Founder’s Day Convocation honored the achievements and contributions of students, faculty members and alumni of the University community at the Chapel Thursday.
Trustee Emeritus Karl von der Heyden, co-chair of the American Academy in Berlin and Trinity ’62, spoke to the audience about how Duke has changed since its early days—particularly since he graduated. Von der Heyden referenced one of the more light-hearted lessons he learned on his first day at Duke.
“Wine is illegal? Verboten? For a European that was hard to hear,” von der Heyden said, noting Duke handed out cigarettes in the cafeteria during his time as a student. “Duke did change—you can now drink alcohol, but you can’t smoke on campus.”
Von der Hayden, one of this year’s two University Medalists, more seriously discussed the change in Duke’s ethnic landscape. Duke became racially integrated three years after he arrived as freshman in 1958, though von der Heyden noted the self-segregation that still lingers on campus.
Although Von der Heyden encouraged the audience to learn about Duke’s history, he also warned against scrutinizing the past.
“We can look at the past with the eyes of our times, but we should not judge the past with those same eyes,” he said.
After Von der Heyden’s address, Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, recognized various undergraduate scholarship programs, and Provost Peter Lange acknowledged graduate fellows. President Richard Brodhead then presented the annual Founder’s Day awards.
Anthony Kelley, associate professor of the practice of music, received the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award. Brodhead spoke of Kelley’s extensive musical career. Kelley was nominated by a student who was inspired to pursue music after coming to know the professor well, Brodhead said.
Brodhead also awarded Trustee Emerita Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke, Trinity ’67, with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Reuben-Cooke was one of the first five black undergraduate students at Duke, and she fought for equality during her time at the University.
Professor of Chemistry James Bonk, who began his Duke career in 1959, received a standing ovation when he was recognized as the second University Medalist. In his remarks, Brodhead said Bonk has been such a popular professor, that his students have nicknamed his classes “Bonkistry.” Previously, Bonk taught an introductory chemistry class, acting as the gateway to chemistry for more than 30,000 Duke students.
Junior Casey Edwards said she found the speech compelling and thought it offered fascinating insight about the origins of Duke and its scholarship programs.
“It is important to realize the diversity we have at Duke—how unique it is,” Edwards said. “We should take advantage of it.”
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