850 guests attend Inaugural Ball welcoming Dr. Troy D. Hammond as North Central College president

More than 850 guests attended the Inaugural Ball for North Central College President Troy D. Hammond May 17 in the Residence Hall/Recreation Center.

The event featured dinner and dancing and capped a day highlighted by President Hammond’s Inauguration Ceremony. The day also featured the Cornerstone Celebration Picnic and the President’s Roundtable on STEM education and the liberal arts.

“People representing the entire Naperville community are celebrating with North Central College on this occasion,” Dr. Hammond said. “It signifies to me that we really do have a brilliant future.”

North Central Trustee Mike Naset, who chaired the Presidential Search Committee that led to the selection of Hammond as the College’s 10th president, welcomed Dr. Hammond and his family on behalf of the College.

“This is a special moment in the history of the College,” Naset said.

Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by the band Entourage, which also performed at the College’s Sesquicentennial Celebration in the Res/Rec Center on Nov. 11, 2011.

Rick Spencer, vice president for institutional advancement, said the week’s events that culminated with the Inauguration were unique to the College and Naperville.

“I hope everyone realizes how special this day is,” Spencer said. “The way the whole community comes together to celebrate—it does not happen like this anywhere else.”