Faculty in full academic regalia filled the lobby of the Carnegie Music Hall on Friday for… Faculty in full academic regalia filled the lobby of the Carnegie Music Hall on Friday for Pitt’s Honors Convocation. Students gathered with family and friends, wearing yellow honoree ribbons.

“It’s good for the University to recognize excellence in academics,” said Nathan Hunnel, a junior member of the Golden Key Honor Society. “It’s an area that doesn’t get recognized all that often in our society.”

Members of student honors societies and leadership organizations such as Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Sigma Lambda, Lambda Sigma, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa were also honored for excellence in academics, service and leadership.

Chancellors Scholars, scholarship winners and students in the top 2 percent of their classes, received awards for academic honors.

“The convocation recognizes faculty, students and staff on accomplishments and honors,” said Susan Albrecht, associate dean of Pitt’s Nursing School and recipient of the Distinguished Nurse Award.

Other faculty members awarded were Hans-Peter Stahl for the Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Title, David M. Berman for the Fulbright Scholar Lecturing/Research Award for 2005-2006 and Bradley Agle and Jennifer Shang for the Beta Gamma Sigma National Business Honor Society elections to membership.

Because of a personal emergency, author and Pitt alumna Bebe Moore Campbell could not speak during the convocation address. Instead, Pitt trustee Richard L. Thornburgh, former Pennsylvania governor and attorney general of the United States stepped in as keynote speaker.

“I reached out to Dick,” Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said, “knowing that saying no was not one of his developed skills.”

With only a few days notice, Thornburgh presented a speech honoring the students, faculty and staff at the convocation.

Thornburgh – along with J.Roger Glunt, president of Glunt development Co., Inc. and Jayar Construction Co., Inc.; and Stephen R. Tritch, president and chief executive officer of Westinghouse Electric Company – received the Pitt Alumni Award.

“Any stellar achievement in any of your fields,” Thornburgh said, “should be viewed as simply one more step in the long journey of life long fulfillment.”