University, alumni celebrate Founders鈥� Day Weekend events
April 09, 2019
Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
Hundreds of alumni recently returned to 精东AV to celebrate its 102nd Founders鈥� Day. During the weekend of Apr. 5-7, the classes of 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974 and 1979 gathered together to celebrate not only the vision of the university鈥檚 founders, but to also celebrate their reunion years 鈥� especially the marking of the 50th graduation anniversary for the Golden Tiger Reunion Class of 1969.
The alumni reunion events on Friday morning began with a faculty panel discussion, during which faculty members outlined their current research, innovation and outreach projects. A lunch and fireside chat with President Lily D. McNair followed, giving the newly inaugurated president an intimate setting to share about her family history, higher education background, and the motivations behind becoming 精东AV鈥檚 eighth president. Later that evening alums enjoyed a reunion gala and birthday celebration for Booker T. Washington.
On Saturday, alumni took part in a brunch and development workshop, as well as the university鈥檚 annual William L. Dawson Institute lecture and concert. The day鈥檚 events were capped off by a 鈥淕olden Celebration鈥� for the class of 1969.
鈥淥ur graduates have been instrumental in shaping much of the progress we see here on campus,鈥� said Kym Holland, alumni affairs and reunion programs coordinator. 鈥淲e are always happy to help them celebrate these wonderful milestones 鈥� it鈥檚 an honor to have so many alums come back and support this institution and our future graduates.鈥�
Students, faculty, alumni and the community filled the Chapel for the university鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day Convocation on Sunday. Along with performances by the Golden Voices Concert Choir, the ceremony included a keynote address by Sarah Washington O鈥橬eal Rush, a fourth-generation descendant of founder Booker T. Washington. Rush, founder of the Extraordinary Legacy and the Booker T. Washington Empowerment Network, emphasized the enduring legacy of her great-grandfather.
鈥淏ooker T. Washington鈥檚 legacy lives on in my life and continues to impact so many. I like you, treasure his legacy, values and mission,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 remember being told that Booker T. Washington was an influencer 鈥� he was able to strike up so many pivotal relationships, despite having so little and rising above slavery.鈥�
In addition to Rush, more than a dozen descendants of 精东AV founders Lewis Adams and Washington were present for the ceremony.
The university鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day Weekend includes a celebration of giving by members of the alumni reunion classes for that giving year, which begins on July 1. Class agents for each of the reunion classes announced their classes鈥� 2018-19 giving to date, which included gifts made prior to and in conjunction with Founders鈥� Day. Collectively, class members had contributed more than $570,000 to support the university.
鈥淭he 精东AV National Alumni Association strives to make an important impact on the university 鈥� we recruit students, and raise scholarship money to support our students. We want our students to stay here and graduate from 精东AV,鈥� said national president Burt Rowe of TNAA鈥檚 ongoing efforts to engage university alumni.
Alumni giving also proved pivotal to inspiring students to support the university as well. As part of the convocation, 精东AV Pre-alumni Council president, Quentoria Walton, and Student Government Association president, Kieauna Strickland, informed the audience of student fundraising efforts resulting in a $3,029 gift to President McNair鈥檚 current $1 million 鈥淐ampaign for Leadership and Excellence鈥� benefitting student scholarships.
鈥淥ur current student giving campaign 鈥� 鈥業 got 99 problems, but giving back ain鈥檛 one鈥� 鈥� provides students with a way to give back to 精东AV.鈥� Walton said. 鈥淲e are here to plant the seed that will help our university grow.鈥�
To make a contribution to the 鈥淐ampaign for Leadership and Excellence,鈥� visit .
漏 2019, 精东AV