Troy University will welcome students back to the Troy Campus this weekend with a series of events, culminating with the 14th annual Odyssey Convocation for new students on Sunday.
Welcome Weekend 2018 activities include sorority bid day on Saturday and residence hall move-in days on Saturday and Sunday. A number of TROY faculty and staff and members of the football and soccer teams will be on hand to assist with hospitality and moving between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Fall semester classes will begin on the Troy Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
Alumni William and Liz Filmore will deliver the keynote address during Sunday’s Odyssey Convocation, which is set for 2 p.m. in Trojan Arena.
“The Odyssey Convocation is the beginning of a student’s journey with Troy University,” said Herb Reeves, Dean of Student Services. “It is symbolic in that the journey begins and ends in Trojan Arena with the convocation and commencement once a student completes their course of study. Odyssey is a celebration of a student’s journey by the sharing of expectations and traditions of TROY and the beginning of a new chapter in their life.”
The Filmores both currently serve the State of Alabama in the Office of Gov. Kay Ivey. Liz is the special assistant to the Chief of Staff, serving as the White House liaison and overseeing the governor’s daily schedule, as well as political appointments made by the governor. William is the governor’s liaison to the state House of Representatives. Both worked in various state government roles prior to joining the governor’s staff.
Both received their undergraduate degrees in 2011 – Liz with a bachelor’s in journalism and William with a bachelor’s in business administration. Liz completed her Master of Public Administration in 2013, while William earned his MBA in May.
While at TROY, the two were heavily involved in campus activities. Liz served as clerk for the Student Government Association and president of her sorority, and she was crowned as TROY’s 2010 Homecoming queen. William served as SGA president, while also participating in honors societies and Greek and professional fraternities. The two were selected by their peers in 2010 to receive the Greek Man and Greek Woman of the Year awards.
The couple makes their home in Montgomery and attend First Baptist Church where they served as small group leaders for ninth graders.
In addition to the keynote address, the convocation will include remarks from Dr. Hal Fulmer, dean of undergraduate and first-year studies; Dr. Earl Ingram, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor; Gus McKenzie, SGA president.
Michael Orlofsky, professor and recipient of the University’s Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, and Outstanding Freshman award recipient Elizabeth Whitman will light the ceremonial Odyssey torch.
Head football coach Neal Brown, accompanied by the Sound of the South, will lead students in singing the University’s Fight Song.
