Alumna joins in Stephens welcome

Words of sisterhood and community filled Stephens College’s Kimball Ballroom on Thursday morning as campus leaders and a famous alumna addressed 600 students.

Students gathered in the ballroom for the college’s opening convocation in celebration of the new school year.

“It’s a very important event because it gives a chance for the entire school to have a shared experience,” Stephens President Wendy Libby said.

The keynote speaker, alumna Nicole Facciuto, who is currently the lead designer for HGTV’s show “What’s Your Sign Design,” emphasized the importance of taking classes that don’t count toward a specific major.

Facciuto, who graduated in 1997 with a theatre arts degree, said she became interested in interior design after taking a class in scenic art, a class that wouldn’t count toward her degree.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, or even if you do know what you’re doing and something comes along and kind of jiggles it a little bit and makes you look at something a little differently, or want to do something differently, then do it,” she said.

Student Government Association President Laura Eisenbaum spoke of her summer working at a large company and how she yearned to “come home” to Stephens.

“Home is the place where you get your start, where you get your inspiration to do anything,” she said.

Libby also encouraged students to become comfortable at Stephens. She welcomed them by saying “sursum,” a Latin phrase meaning “onward and upward,” which is also the name of a bronze sculpture that will be added to Stephens’ campus this month.

The sculpture of a woman with her arms outstretched will stand in Journey Plaza at Stephens after its dedication Sept. 15.