"Becoming Buckeyes"

(Music: The Ohio State University Marching Band

(Crowd cheering.)

“0-H-I-O!”

(More cheering.)

Archie Griffin: Good morning, and welcome to The Ohio State University family. I want all of you to know that I am truly honored to be with you at your first official nniversity event. Today your story begins. You have been preparing for this day for a long, long time. Some of you have known all your lives that one day you would be an Ohio State Buckeye. Others saw the scarlet and gray light just more recently. All of you have earned your membership in this class with an excellent record of achievement in academics, leadership, and service. Congratulations on being part of this very, very qualified class. We hope your campus days are filled with challenge and change, inquiry and innovation, good friends, and good times. Welcome future alumni of The Ohio State University, and as you will hear me say quite often, Go Bucks!

President Gee: We come from different places and different backgrounds, we have unique talents and unique points of view, and we are brought together--students, faculty, and staff--out of a common sense of purpose and community. We are here to improve lives, our own, and the lives of those around us. This university, this sacred place, is the perfect place to get started along that journey. I have been a university president now for thirty years, and from that experience I have a few words of advice. Test yourself. There is no better place to stretch the limits of your gifts. You won’t ever know what your capable of unless you try. Follow your curiosity; stretch beyond what is familiar and comfortable. Wherever you go, my dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, and wherever you're from, these years together at Ohio State are a time for joy, for growth, for learning, for direction, and for leadership. To make the most of this time ask for help, lead and laugh and listen, and enjoy yourself. Finally let me say this, Ohio State is here to help you on your life’s journey.

(Music: "Carmen Ohio.")

Convocation is the official welcome event at Ohio State for first-year students.

In St. John Arena, students hear from President Gee, faculty, administrators, and student leaders. They also learn the lyrics to the university's alma mater, Carmen Ohio (below).

At the end of the ceremony, students walk to the Shoe. The next time the Class of 2013 gathers as a group will also be at the Shoe--this time, for commencement.

Carmen Ohio

Oh! Come let's sing Ohio's praise,

And songs to Alma Mater raise;

While our hearts rebounding thrill,

With joy which death alone can still.

Summer's heat or Winter's cold,

The seasons pass, the years will roll;

Time and change will surely show

How firm thy friendship O-hi-o.

These jolly days of priceless worth,

By far the gladest days of earth,

Soon will pass and we not know,

How dearly we love O-hi-o.

We should strive to keep the name,

Of fair repute and spotless fame,

So, in college halls we'll grow,

To love the better, O-hi-o.

Tho' age may dim our mem'ry's store,

We'll think of happy days of yore,

True to friend and frank to foe,

As sturdy sons of O-hi-o.

If on seas of care we roll,

'Neath blackened sky, o'er barren shoal,

Tho'ts of thee bid darkness go,

Dear Alma Mater O-hi-o.