Providence, R.I.--Dr. James M. Ludes '93, executive director of the American Security Project, offered the Distinguished Alumnus Address and three students received academic awards at the annual Liberal Arts Honors Convocation on October 16 at Providence College.
Ludes, who founded the Washington, D.C.-based think tank, majored in history and modern languages at Providence College and was a member of the Honors Program. In his remarks, he reflected on the changes to PC since his graduation as well as the many ways he benefited from the lessons he learned during his time on campus.
"The truth is, everything I've done of consequence in the last 20 years can be traced back to this piece of land, to Providence College, and to the Honors Program," Ludes said. "It was the grounding of an education. It was the grounding of a life spent in pursuit of values, of beauty, good, and truth."
Ludes described the great influence his professors had on him, sharing anecdotes about both the triumphs and challenges of four years in the program.
"It was the catalytic experience in my life that fused faith with reason; where my talents and my dreams found formation; where my hope and my love became one; where teachers and mentors and friends challenged and encouraged me; where dreams became possible and horizons stretched out before me," he said. "Looking around this room tonight, I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about this school and about this program."
The convocation also featured the annual presentation of the Dr. Rodney Delasanta Award and the Rev. Paul van K. Thomson Award.
Delasanta was one of the original professors of the Development of Western Civilization (DWC) program and spent more than 40 years as a professor at PC--including a seventeen-year stint as director of the Honors Program--before his death in 2007. Thomson, who was a co-founder of the Honors Program and its first director, served as a professor at PC for nearly 40 years and also was the first lay vice president for academic administration.
The Delasanta Award, which was established in 2008, recognizes the best student paper in freshman honors DWC classes. This year's recipient was Melissa Tran '12 of Reston, Va.
"I think the Honors Program is so effective because it recognizes the potential students have to extend their intellectual boundaries," said Tran. "My professors in my honors classes knew what their students were capable of and demanded nothing less than their best work. And I've noticed, as in my case, that honors students want to reciprocate the respect their professors give them by rising to the challenge of meeting their professors' expectations."
The Thomson Award is given annually to the student who demonstrates exemplary, sustained work in honors DWC during the two-year, four-course sequence.
Two winners were announced this year: Yi Cao '11 of East Providence, R.I., and Elizabeth Santilli '11 of Cranston, R.I.
"It is an honor for me to receive the award. I feel that the Honors Program is a good way to meet great professors and gain a deeper understanding of many diverse topics, especially through the colloquiums," said Cao.
"I really loved Development of Western Civilization. I always think of it as an opportunity to learn everything about everything, which I don't think I would have much chance of getting in another place," said Santilli. "So to get an award for my work in Civ was such a blessing and a really wonderful way to end my experience with the program."
- Joe Miller '10
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