One word best encapsulates this year’s Opening Convocation at William & Mary: transformation.

Not just a physical one for campus as the Wren Building undergoes a renovation, but a life-changing one for new students as they join the Alma Mater of the Nation.

“You will never have more agency over your time than you do right now,” said Darpan Kapadia ’95, chief operating officer of LS Power and vice chair of the William & Mary Foundation Board of Trustees, who served as the speaker for this year’s event. “It’s likely that one of your experiences on campus will be your most formative.”

Hundreds of new students gathered in the Wren Yard on Wednesday night for the Opening Convocation ceremony, which coincided with the first day of undergraduate classes. The long-held tradition serves as the official kickoff to the academic year.

President Katherine A. Rowe welcomed students, emphasizing how each person brings unique ideas and interests to the university. Acknowledging the ongoing “Wrenovation” of the oldest extant academic building in America, Rowe said that even though the path looks different this year, it’s still brighter than ever.

“The fencing and scaffolding remind us that institutions do not sustain themselves,” she said. “They are built. They are maintained. They are imagined for the future. No matter how iconic they may be, they need regular care.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William & Mary (@william_and_mary)

Quoting Judge John Charles Thomas Hon. J.D. ’16, HON ’18, LL.D. ’24, Rowe reminded onlookers that it’s up to everyone to be “magnificent builders” of the future.

“We strive to build community via, not just despite, disagreement,” she added. “We know that’s how we learn and how we grow at William & Mary.”

Later, donning a hard hat with “ROWE” bedazzled on the front and standing alongside Class of 2026 President Debbie Ho ’26, Rowe accepted the Class of 2029 banner. Students decked out in hard hats and bright yellow vests unveiled the banner over the Wren Building scaffolding.

Rowe later honored this year’s recipients of the President’s Award for Service and highlighted W&M’s Year of the Environment, a yearlong observance to advance sustainability efforts on campus and expand the university’s impact around the world.

Don’t get stuck on the treadmill

It’s easy to think of college as merely a stepping stone into adulthood, a necessity for a person to finally start a career and make a name for themselves. But if there was one message new students heard, it was to reject that idea. As Provost Peggy Agouris put it, “Don’t fast forward through the story.”

“As you begin this next chapter, don’t just chase the big milestones,” she said. “Pay attention to the small moments that will matter just as much – the late-night conversations that change how you see the world, the friend who shows up when you need it most, the professor who challenges you in ways you didn’t expect – those are the moments that shape your William & Mary story.”

In his remarks, Kapadia noted that he sees this rushing urgency in his own kids. Hard work and determination are a cornerstone of the student experience, but Kapadia encouraged students not to get caught on the “treadmill of life.” Don’t just check boxes, but take risks.

“We want to give you the freedom to try new things, to explore new passions,” he said, noting his support for internships and applied learning experiences for students. “The prescribed and predictable rarely lead to something truly worthwhile.”

Kapadia has his own history of taking risks. Before leading one of the largest power generation, transition and energy infrastructure companies in the U.S., he, too, was a William & Mary student, unsure of what he wanted to do. He initially wanted to be a lawyer, then a politician, an economist, and a consultant. When he left his job at Goldman Sachs to work at LS Power, the risk was high. But the reward all these years later was even higher.

“My North Star was the search for meaningful work with people I respected,” he said. “Every pivot I made was just a tactical step toward that end.”

In addition to not getting stuck on the treadmill, Kapadia had two more lessons for new students: Take ownership, and don’t live for your resume. Instead, invest in ideas, time and talent that are bigger than yourself. Take as much as possible from the university and then pay it forward.

“None of us do this alone,” he said. “That’s why I’m here today. I’m committed to supporting the institution that built the pieces of who I am. Lifting William & Mary up will lift all of you up – and you all will make the difference.”

Newfound family

As the ceremony progressed, the other side of the Wren buzzed with energy. Shouts of “Let them through! Let them through!” echoed across the Sunken Garden as returning students waited eagerly for the new class to walk through the Wren Building to be greeted on the other side.

Finally, new faces appeared and the garden erupted with hand-held clappers and cheers as sophomores, juniors and seniors high-fived and hugged their newfound companions.

“It’s fun to welcome all the incoming students and make them as excited for William & Mary as we are,” said Shakirat Shinaba ’27. 

Now on the other side of convocation, Katriel Amoyaw ’27 recalled the nerves that she felt that day, but remembers the eagerness she felt simultaneously.

“It was scary, but at the same time it felt good and I was happy to be here,” she said. “I’m excited for this class too.”

Nya Tefferi ’27, a resident assistant on campus, added that building strong bonds with other students will make all the difference in the year ahead.

“I’m excited to welcome these new students in and make them feel like they’re at home and that everyone belongs here,” she said. “We want to create that safe community for them.”