The incoming class of 2010 was given an assignment with a deadline on one of their first days as college students.

As of Monday at 11 a.m., the new class had 1.96 million minutes to grow as individuals and begin to make a difference in the world, said Zack Ford, president of the Student Government Association. If their college careers are successful, these three goals should be fulfilled upon graduation day in 2010.

“It goes fast,” Ford said.

This year’s Convocation ceremony welcomed 1,526 first-year students, who hail from 37 states, two territories and 25 countries.

Peter Bardaglio, provost of the college, gave opening remarks at the ceremony, noting the freshmen’s finesse both in and out of the classroom. Ten members of the class were National Merit Scholarship finalists, 25 were valedictorians or salutatorians, 31 are children of alumni and 52 are siblings of Ithaca College students, he said.

William Haines, chairman of the board of trustees, urged first-year students to take advantage of opportunities provided to them by the college and to take pride in being a part of a family of 60,000 alumni.

“Today marks the beginning of a relationship with you and Ithaca College that will last a lifetime,” he said.

Ford used personal experiences and anecdotes to deliver his message. Ford also discussed his views on the current generation of students. Calling it “Generation Screwed,” he said that though the generation is highly intelligent, it tends to be the laziest and least inspired.

“We take comfort in the present, and it becomes so easy to not care,” he said.

Ford said if students can take the time to care about things such as instant messaging and Facebook, then there is no reason not to care about important issues such as sexual orientation and abortion.

“We do know better than that,” he said.

President Peggy R. Williams encouraged first-year students to consider questions that are deeper than the classic, “What will I be when I grow up?” Students should contemplate things like how to live their lives and who they want to become, she said.

“The ‘who’s’ and the ‘how’s’ will become your life stories,” she said.

Williams also noted that the college experience is more about exploration, discovery and fulfillment of dreams than the schoolwork itself. And though the experience is brand-new for the incoming class, a college education is ongoing and permanent, she said.

“Education can only be complete when you realize you have been given a gift that must be shared,” she said.

Three faculty members were honored at the ceremony for their work in the past year. Michael Rogers, assistant professor of physics, was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award; Katharyn Howd Machan, associate professor of writing, was given the Excellence in Scholarship Award; and Wenmouth Williams, professor and chair of the television and radio department, received the Excellence in Service Award.