BY OLIVIA ROTONDO
In 2008, Stonehill College introduced a tradition where the senior class president selects a shovel from the historic collection of shovels. This tradition replaced the previous tradition of presenting a flag that had flown over Congress for many years, making the tradition more connected with Stonehill's history and identity.
The convocation tradition at Stonehill, beginning in 1996, originally involved first-year students and seniors receiving their pins. First-year students were also given "alomacts," which were maps to the world, symbolizing their journey ahead. However, in 2008, the tradition evolved to include the senior class president's selection of a shovel.
There are three rules when selecting the shovel as class president:
The chosen shovel cannot be the oldest in the collection (1774), as it is too fragile to move.
The selection must be a shovel that has not been chosen before, to avoid duplication.
The shovel must fit in the display case at Cushin Martin.
The shovel collection itself has a rich history, dating back to 1803 and originating from the Ames family, who were pioneers in shovel manufacturing. When the collection was found in 1973, there was discussion about housing it at the Easton Historical Society. However, due to space concerns, it found its permanent home at Stonehill College.
The Senior class president presented the most recent shovel this year Andrew Parker
Parker talks about his experience selecting the perfect shovel for the class of 2024.
“Selecting the shovel was harder than I thought. I had not been to the archives before choosing my shovel, but when I arrived, I was in shock by the number of shovels in the Ames collection. 600+ shovels is one thing to hear, to see it is another, completely different experience. The shovel I chose was the Ames Featherweight Pony. Its origins are unknown, but it is speculated to have been a ceremonial shovel. I thought this fit the theme of Stonehill 75 perfectly. A ceremonial shovel fits the idea of senior year since senior year is a time to reflect on your time and accomplishments during college. The Pony brand also signified the highest quality shovel produced by the Ames company, and I believe that Stonehill offers a high-quality college experience.”
After Parker had picked out the shovel, he explained his experience when presenting it at the 2024 convocation.
“The experience of presenting the shovel was impressive. I was able to present the shovel to Father John at convocation and then made a speech explaining my choice. Thankfully, I am not as nervous in front of a large audience, so I was relaxed when I gave my speech. I was also fortunate enough to have my family at the convocation. Having my family there was a great joy, it was wonderful being able to share that moment with them. I will say, it is funny sometimes walking into the library and seeing my picture posted up next to the shovel.”
As the Shovel collection continues to grow each year, so does the legacy of those who have walked the halls of Stonehill College.
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