News > February 14, 2008

By Katie Phillips | Contributing writer

Founder’s Day Convocation, an annual event held in order to celebrate the great founders of the university along with accomplished faculty, students and alumni, was held Feb. 16 in Wait Chapel. The speaker, Herman Eure, graduated from the university with a doctorate in philosophy in 1974.

click to enlarge

Herman Eure, professor of biology and associate dean of the undergraduate college, speaks at convocation about the evolution of the university. (Haowei Tong)

He is currently a professor of biology and associate dean of the undergraduate college.

Eure’s address, “The Evolutionary History of Wake Forest University,” combined his evolutionary state of mind with a celebrated evolution of the university.

“The present is the key to the past, but the past is a roadmap for charting our future,” Eure said.

Eure is the one of the first African Americans to receive a doctorate from the university and to become part of the full-time faculty.

Recently he was named in the top 100 greatest African American scientists of the 20th century.

The Medallion of Merit, the university’s highest service award, was presented to Winston-Salem lawyer and long time affiliate of the university, Murray C. Greason, Jr.

The award is the highest recognition for service to the university.

Greason has been affiliated with the university since its time in Wake Forest, N.C.

His father coached the men’s basketball team for 23 years while his mother worked in the office of the dean of the undergraduate college.

After the university relocated from Wake County to Winston-Salem in 1956, his family did the same.

Greason graduated magna cum laude from the university in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree, which led to another magna cum laude from the university’s school of law in 1962.

“For him, Wake Forest and home are synonymous, and the service rendered to his alma mater reflects his devotion as a proud son of this university,” President Hatch said of Greason.

Greason has stayed actively involved since graduation from law school.

His service includes membership on the board of trustees from 1991 to the present, vice chair from 1997–2002 and chair from 2003–2005. He was involved in the search for the university’s 13th president, Nathan Hatch.

Also, Greason served on the university’s School of Law Board of Visitors, the Health Sciences Board of Directors, and the College Birthplace Society.

In addition, he received the distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.

“His counsel has been invaluable to two administrations and he has inspired others to volunteer their talents and become donors to the university’s priorities,” President Hatch said of Greason.

Other awards presented during the ceremony include annual teaching and research awards, faculty recognition, student honor societies and university sports teams.

The Kulynych Family’s Omicron Delta Kappa Award for Contribution to Student Life was given to Jenny Puckett from the romance language department. The Reid-Doyle Prize for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Paul Thacker, the assistant professor of anthropology.

The Award for Excellence in Research was given to Miles Silman, an associate professor of biology.

The Kienzle Teaching Award was presented to two faculty members: Ram Baliga, a professor in the Babcock Graduate School of Management, and John B. McKinnon, a professor of management.

The Cowan Faculty Research Prize was given to Sherry Moss, an associate professor of organizational studies in the Babcock School.

The Joseph Branch Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Robert M. Chesney, an associate professor of law in the university’s school of law.

The new members of the national honor societies, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa, were recognized during the ceremony.

The three sports teams that gained national recognition were honored at convocation along with the faculty members.

The university’s field hockey team reached the NCAA Final Four, and seven members were nominated to the All-Region list.

The football team won the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 29.

Finally, the men’s soccer team won the NCAA College Cup on Dec. 16, their first National Championship.

It was announced that Winston-Salem’s mayor, Allen Joines, proclaimed Feb.7. 2008 to be “Wake Forest University Men’s Soccer Team Day” in honor of their national championship victory.