TCU will officially open its 141st year with Fall Convocation at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 10 in Ed Landreth Auditorium. Classes will be dismissed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. to allow faculty and students to attend.

A procession in academic regalia will form in front of Ed Landreth Hall at 10:45 a.m.. All faculty and adjunct faculty are invited to participate. Also, any staff with advanced degrees employed on at least a three-quarter-time basis are invited to participate.

Chancellor Victor J. Boschini will present the Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar. Nominees are eight faculty members who have already received their School and College awards this year: David L. Vanderwerken (English) and Ralph G. Carter (Political Science) from AddRan College of Liberal Arts, Tyson R. Browning (Information Systems and Supply Chain Management) from the Neeley School of Business, Kenneth S. Richardson (Mathematics) from the College of Science and Engineering), Joel B. Mitchell (Kinesiology) from Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Harry B. Parker (Theatre) from the College of Fine Arts, Paul Schrodt (Communication Studies) from the College of Communication and Stephen V. Sprinkle from Brite Divinity School.

The Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community will be presented to a member of the faculty or staff in recognition and celebration of this person's mentoring of students. The honor was created in 1999 through an endowment established by TCU alumni Mark and Linda Wassenich of Dallas. Because of their own rich experiences as TCU students, the couple founded the unique mentoring award to highlight the value TCU places on key relationships with faculty and staff which help students develop, succeed and contribute to their communities.

This year's finalists are: Eric Cox (Political Science), Diane A. Hawley (Nursing), Michael Chumley (Biology) and Susan Layne (Academic Affairs).

Joe Butler (University organist) will play for the processional and recessional. The TCU Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dennis Shrock, will perform A Prayer by Peter Mathews, Richard Estes will lead the singing of the Alma Mater. University minister Angela Kaufman will deliver the invocation and Newell Williams (president of Brite Divinity School) will give the benediction. As long as offices are covered, all faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

As soon as Convocation lets out, please join Chancellor Boschini on the lawn in front of Jarvis Hall where a historical marker will be unveiled. A Founders Celebration afterwards will be held near the Clark Brothers' statues on the east side of University Drive.