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Western's new President, Sabah Randhawa, addressed Western's faculty and staff this morning at the annual convocation that marks the official start of the new school year.  

After a hearty breakfast in the Viking Union, Western employees gathered in the PAC to celebrate the year's awards to faculty and staff. Faculty Senate President Kristen Larson provided welcoming and closing remarks. In his first convocation remarks, greeted at the end by a standing ovation by those in attendance, Randhawa said that it was a “tremendous honor” to be Western’s president, described the many favorable impressions he had formed of the university, and said the university will initiate a strategic planning process to help better “imagine the future of Western.” He also discussed the importance for Western advancing  "inclusive excellence” and said he hoped the campus would engage in three important reflections over the coming year: appreciating and being proud of Western; imagining the future for Western and what it could be; and lastly, to work together and advance Western collaboratively. For the full text of his speech, go the president's website or at . For more coverage of convocation, go to .

The following award winners were also recognized at the event:

• Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award: , professor of History
• Carl H. Simpson Bridging Award: , professor of Computer Science
• Outstanding Classified Staff Award: , program assistant with New Student Services/Family Outreach
• Diversity Achievement Award: , professor of Psychology, and , associate professor of Human Services
• Professional Staff Award for Excellence: , assistant director for Student Activities, Viking Union - Enrollment and Student Services
• Phil E. Sharpe, Jr. Community Engagement Award: , Parking Services
• Team Recognition Award:

For a full archived video of convocation, click or go to http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/91398972.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø photos by Rhys Logan/Office of Communications and Marketing