As New Year Begins, WCC Students Reminded That Upcoming Academic Endeavors “Need Your Attention!”
On Monday, August 25th, Wyoming Catholic College began its newest academic year as it has each fall since it opened its doors for the first time in 2007: with a Matriculation Ceremony for its newest freshman class, the Class of 2029. The morning began with the annual Convocation Mass at 8:00AM, followed by the traditional All School Photo on the steps of Holy Rosary Church. Then, the students processed back into the church for the formal Matriculation ceremony itself.
In his remarks to the assembled students and guests, Dean Scott Olsson began by reminding them that the Latin word matricula comes from the Latin word matrix, which, in its earliest meaning, means “mother.” Tracing his meaning a bit further, he remarked that when the forty-six young men and women making up the Class of 2029 signed their names in the leather-bound Matricula—the book that bears the names of every previous WCC freshman–they would be memorializing their recognition and acceptance of Wyoming Catholic as their alma mater, their new mother in the academic world they are now entering. And this meant that the newest members of the College were well and truly newborns.
Reflecting on the extraordinary power that is given to newborns, Dean Olsson spoke of Africa’s common, or “blue,” wildebeest. “Nature has given the wildebeest a marvelous power,” he said. “Within its first day, our new wildebeest friend will run as fast as 50 miles per hour. And running 50 mph is why any wildebeest can survive at all…Wildebeest have been given the power to run because that is how they survive. What in-born power, what instinct or impulse do we humans have which makes it possible for us to survive?”
“The human power is not to run. The human power is to pay attention. …A human being who cannot pay attention is like a wildebeest who cannot run. The person who can pay no attention is doomed. Students, the only thing I ask of you is that you pay attention. Your new mother needs your attention. The college does not want your attention to sell you something. It wants your attention so that you might flourish.”
Reminding them of the power of the College’s cell-phone free campus, Dean Olsson encouraged the students to go beyond the existing tech policy: “Attention is a finite resource. You only have so much of it. We need every life-saving drop of that dopamine for your Aristotle and Euclid.…social media is a waste of your time and, worse, of your attention. Let it go. If you aren’t writing a paper, leave your laptop in your room. Don’t check your email more than once a day. Agree to meet your friends without the group chat. Don’t listen to music unless you’re paying attention to it. Take breaks while you study, but when you take breaks, let your mind rest, don’t provoke it to a frenzy. Stay off the computer. Go for a walk. Sit quietly with a friend. Pray. Visit Christ in the Holy Sacrament.”
He closed his remarks with a special message to the incoming students: “Freshmen, we are delighted that you have joined us. We look forward with joy to this new kinship. May God bless your time and may God bless your attention at Wyoming Catholic College.”
After Dr. Olsson completed his opening remarks, he called each of the freshmen by name. One by one, they processed to the front of the church, signed the matricula, and shook the hand of the College’s president, Fr. Dcn. Kyle Washut. Once that formal ceremony was complete, the dean introduced the newly-matriculated class to the assembled community, who greeted them with boisterous cheers and sustained applause. Then, the Class of 2029 joined their new classmates in singing the College’s alma mater, “Verus Conditor Montium,” for the first time as official Wyoming Catholic College students.
A recording of Dean Olsson’s remarks can be heard HERE, and Fr. Dcn. Kyle Washut’s homily from the Convocation Mass, which touched on many of the same topics as Dr. Olsson’s reflections, can be found HERE.
