Acadia marks fall convocation

Educating mind, body and spirit was the topic of Dr. Maurice Tugwell’s address to fall graduates at Acadia University.

A popular educator, Tugwell told graduates it is “a barren pursuit to marshal all of one’s efforts for the task of accumulating resources to live on if we have given little or no consideration to addressing the question of what we are living for. “We are discovering yet again that man does not live by iPod alone, that no amount of stuff can fill that gnawing hole in the soul where happiness might take root.”

Acadia awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities to its former university chaplain, Rev. Roger Prentice. Prentice served as chaplain for 22 years. He worked on many projects, including the installation of a bell in the chapel in memory of Rev. I. Judson Levy, chaplain from 1964 to 1975; the Chaplaincy Endowment Fund, directing 10 passion plays and writing nine, the establishment of the chapel choir and an expansion of the chapel. Prentice has also served as president of the Wolfville Area Inter-church Council, president of the Atlantic Baptist Fellowship and played the part of Mr. Fezziwig in Mr. Fezziwig’s Family Christmas Frolic for 10 years. His most recent book, Hymns at Heaven’s Gate: The Uses and Abuse of Hymns, is set for release in November.

Well-known Wolfville resident Al Whittle, a familiar face at the university dining hall for decades, received the Acadia Community Service Award. Whittle moved to Wolfville in 1953 to work as manager of the Acadia Theatre. A year later, he was put in charge of the ushers for Acadia convocations, a post he retained until 1992. Whittle’s work for the community includes president of the Apple Blossom Festival, board member of the Wolfville Development Corporation and volunteer with the Theatre Arts Festival International. He now serves on the board of the Acadia Cinema Co-operative, which renamed the local cinema the Al Whittle Theatre.

Acadia also celebrated homecoming with a football game in honour of military families. Crews from 14 Wing Greenwood made an official fly past during the game.