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He grew up in a slowly dying Midwestern city where few of his school classmates ever dreamed of overcoming the challenges of living in an impoverished community. Leon Williams, however, did, and he has dedicated his career to helping others achieve their goals.

Education is not the answer to every problem, but “it will help us all to learn more about those with whom we share life on this fragile globe,” a sentiment explored in depth March 31 by former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, the keynote speaker at Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Spring Convocation for Honors.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will be the featured speaker during Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Spring Convocation for Honors at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, in Alumni Gym. Tickets are still available for the general public and for students, faculty and staff.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ sophomore Amanda Leigh Clark was recognized this week with an honorable mention in the 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to students planning for careers in science, math and engineering.

Victoria “Tori” Davis, an Â鶹ÊÓƵ political science and international studies double major, has been named the recipient of a 2009 Fulbright U.S. Student Grant, one of the premier fellowships for post-graduate international study.

“One on One Sports,” a sports debate show produced by Â鶹ÊÓƵ Student Television, was named this week as one of three award-winners in the Newscast category of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences College Television Awards.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ students Joey Accordino, Christopher Bunn and Michael Heil were in California March 21 to accept the university's first College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation.

Dozens of students are taking part in four service trips organized for Spring Break 2009, the Kernodle Center for Service Learning has announced, with efforts along the hurricane-damaged Gulf Coast, the Domincian Republic and Honduras.

Pam Kiser, Watts-Thompson Professor in the Department of Human Services, has accepted the position of Interim Dean of Â鶹ÊÓƵ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and will start her new role with the university on June 1.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ senior Victoria “Tori” Davis has been named the recipient of a DACOR Bacon House Foundation fellowship for graduate study in international affairs, a $10,000 award that will assist her this fall as she begins work toward a doctorate in political science en route to a career with the U.S. Foreign Service.