Bridgewater Native Meagan Harrington Speaks At Stonehill College Academic Convocation

Harrington presented College president with annual senior class shovel- a shovel used in the recovery efforts after 9/11.

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Stonehill senior Meagan Harrington presents College President Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C. with annual senior shovel at the College's Convocation ceremony on TUesday, August 30.

EASTON, MA (08/31/2011)(readMedia)-- Stonehill College celebrated the start of the 2011-2012 academic year at its annual Academic Convocation in the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex on Tuesday, August 30 and Bridgewater native Meagan Harrington, a senior at the College, was one of the featured speakers during the ceremony.

As the senior class president, Harrington presented to Stonehill President Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C. the Class of 2012 shovel selection. A tradition at the College, the senior class shovel celebrates the College's historical connection to the Oliver Ames Shovel Company. Oliver Ames founded his world-famous shovel company in North Easton in 1803. A century later, his great grandson, Frederick Lothrop Ames (1876-1921), built the mansion and 600-acre estate that would become Stonehill College.

This year's shovel is a powerful physical artifact from one of America's most horrific events- the September 11th attacks. The shovel was that of New York City police detective Joseph Wedge, a 1985 graduate of the College, who was one of the first responders at the World Trade Center.

For days on end, Wedge used that shovel in the effort to recover bodies among the ruble. On his last day at ground zero his shovel broke into two pieces. Rather than discard it, he remembered Stonehill's shovel collection and donated it.

"In remembrance of the ten year anniversary of 9/11, please keep in mind all of the lives lost and all of those who fight to make this world a better place. Just as Joe and his fellow respondents followed the values of light and hope, I hope that you too will embrace these values," said Harrington in her remarks to the student-body.