It started with a parade of flags.

The 10th Annual Convocation was Monday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Student body president Cole Rogers and university president William Perry welcomed the audience, made mostly of freshmen.

“New beginnings,” was the main point of his speech.

Perry said students are able to change society.

“Their hearts, minds, spirits and careers can transform society,” Perry said.

Lynne Curry, Faculty Laureate 2006-2007 introduced the new Faculty Laureate for the 2007-2008 school year, Ann Fritz.

Fritz earned her Ph. D at Indiana University. She teaches biology, animal diversity classes and does research on insect breeding.

The path the students choose while at college was the focus of her speech.

During the general education classes, Fritz said that students are able to find what interests them.

“These classes allow students to stretch ways to solve problems,” Fritz said.

The majority of freshman students are taking several general education classes. Finding the path that energizes and excites students is important in college, and general education classes can do just that, Fritz said.

Students are able to realize that they have interests in more than one area.

“Students can develop and hone their ability to courses outside their major,” Fritz said.

The classes that are taken in college will allow students to not only fulfill requirements but to also think in a different light.

“Think critically as your life depends on it,” Fritz said.

Emily Schrock, a freshman biological science major, enjoyed Fritz’s speech.

“Dr. Fritz’s speech was really helpful in learning about the university,” she said.

Students have a variety of resources available to them at Eastern and can use that to help enrich their college experience.

“Eastern is one of the best-kept secrets in Illinois,” Fritz said.