On Campus
Balderson encourages first-year students to embrace challenges at Convocation
Ohio State Senator Troy Balderson encouraged Muskingum University’s first-year undergraduate students to embrace new challenges at the University’s Opening Convocation on Tuesday in the Anne C. Steele Center.
“In today’s world, a college degree will reveal countless doors of opportunity to you as you move forward in life,” Balderson said. “But a Muskingum University education is special — it will teach you how to open those doors, how to walk through them, and how to keep them open for others. And that is what truly defines who you are in this world.”
Born and raised in southeastern Ohio, Sen. Balderson graduated from Zanesville High School in 1980 and attended both Muskingum and The Ohio State University. Sen. Balderson is serving in his second term in the Ohio Senate and represents Ohio’s 20th District, which includes Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Morgan and Muskingum counties and portions of Athens and Pickaway counties.
No matter what interests they may have, students at Muskingum University can expect to be challenged, Balderson added.
“Every single one of the new students in this room is capable of achieving true success — if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be in this room right now,” Balderson added. “The work you will put in to achieve success is what will benefit you for years to come, because once you know that you can achieve something, you will not want to stop.”
President Susan S. Hasseler, serving in her second year leading the University, assured the first-year students who gathered that they’ve chosen a place where faculty and staff are united in the common purpose of engaging, challenging and encouraging them and preparing them to serve the world.
“In just a few short years, we will be celebrating with you again, on your graduation day, when you will take your place in what we call our ‘Long Magenta Line’ of alumni,” she said. “Before that day, you have an exciting journey ahead of you – your Muskingum education. Everyone on this campus is here to support and encourage you, as our Muskingum faculty lead you on that journey.”
