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The day included a tea honoring emeriti faculty

Sixteen emeriti faculty were welcomed back for Founders Day: Seated, L-R: Janis Solomon, June Macklin, Helen Reeve, Marion Doro. Standing L-R: Sally Taylor, Bernard Murstein, Peter Leibert, George Willauer, Melvin Woody, President Leo Higdon, Linda Herr, Alan Bradford, Nelly Murstein, David Cullen, Garrett Green, Joann Silverberg. Not pictured: Otello Desiderato
Sixteen emeriti faculty were welcomed back for Founders Day: Seated, L-R: Janis Solomon, June Macklin, Helen Reeve, Marion Doro. Standing L-R: Sally Taylor, Bernard Murstein, Peter Leibert, George Willauer, Melvin Woody, President Leo Higdon, Linda Herr, Alan Bradford, Nelly Murstein, David Cullen, Garrett Green, Joann Silverberg. Not pictured: Otello Desiderato

Student performances, a special Founders Day Tea honoring emeriti faculty and the unveiling of a new camel mascot at a celebration of athletics marked the College's 99th birthday celebration April 5.

View photos from the day.

Founders Day marks the anniversary of the day the College was chartered in 1911 and officially starts the countdown to the Centennial celebration, which begins April 5, 2011.

The festivities began with a special performance by Anders Nielsen '12, Kristen Caruana '13 and Molly Clifford '13, who brought alumni experiences to life with "Past as Prologue: Alumni Remember."

The performance, directed by Theater Professor Leah Lowe, was based on interviews with three alumni of different generations - 1920s, 1950s and 1970s.

At the Founders Day Tea, President Leo I. Higdon Jr. thanked the College's emeriti faculty. "These men and women helped make Connecticut College the strong and vibrant institution it is today," he said.

View a slideshow of emeriti faculty from their teaching days.

At the Celebration of Athletics, members of the undefeated men's lacrosse team helped unveil the College's new athletics identity and camel mascot.

The College's online birthday card was printed and displayed at the Founders Day Tea. Signed by more than 1,300 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends of the College, the card was more than 76 feet long.

View the first half of the birthday card.
View the second half of the birthday card.

Kiara Fuller '10 signed, "Happy Birthday Conn! I'm honored to graduate in this 99th year. I wish you 99 more!" Joan Pine Flash Davis '50 wrote that the College has had a "wonderful, important life," while Leidy Valencia '09 called it "the most beautiful college in the world."

The College has grown tremendously throughout its 99-year history, and Frances Sears Baratz '40 wrote that she has enjoyed watching it evolve over time. She was on hand for the festivities and saw the card firsthand.

In one of the more clever signatures, Karen Moran Selkey '87 poked fun at the changing styles of the generations. "You look much better than you did in the 80s," she wrote. "But then, don't we all?"

-Amy Martin and Barb Nagy

 

 

 



April 14, 2010