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Queens University of Charlotte will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2007, and this Sesquicentennial has great potential to build on recent momentum and to celebrate its rich history at the same time. While this will be an exciting occasion for an institution that has been part of the Charlotte community since 1857, the anniversary also has great potential to move the institution forward in a dramatic way.
A successful celebration around the Sesquicen-tennial will have many advantages for Queens. It will create a greater institutional awareness and name recognition throughout the region and will offer unique opportunities to build on existing community partnerships, as well as develop new ones. The Sesquicentennial will allow the University to highlight some of its most attractive and successful programs, from the CORE undergraduate liberal arts curriculum to the nationally recognized internship and international study programs. With added recognition and appreciation for Queens as an educational resource and community asset, this celebration should also encourage a larger investment of private resources in the University's success. |
The Sesquicentennial will be a year-long celebration during the academic year of 2006-07. The kick-off will likely be a Founders Day Gala in the fall of 2006. This event will not only create awareness of the Sesquicentennial in general, but preview other community, academic and cultural events hosted at Queens during the rest of the 2006-07 year.
Homecoming in the winter of 2006 will be enhanced to create new alumni excitement, and it will possibly coincide with a high-profile athletic event. Reunion in the spring of 2007 will be designed to accommodate ALL alumni for a return to campus, regardless of class affiliation. Existing campus events will feature dynamic convocation & commencement speakers, departmental and archival exhibits, and various sports events showcasing Queens' successful Division II teams. Other ideas include collaborative exhibits with local museums, the establishment of an athletics hall of fame, and the hosting of symposia/workshops on key issues facing higher education and the community.
The Sesquicentennial also offers opportunities to build on long-term relationships with the local Presbyterian churches that have been integral to Queens' history, as well as highlight partnerships with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Plans are also underway with the Learning Society, Friends of Music and the Friends of the Library to promote collaborative events that promote their organizations as well as the Sesquicentennial. |
For Queens to fully maximize the potential of the Sesquicentennial, many volunteers will be needed to make it a success. From a steering committee that will be assembled in the fall of 2004 to on-site volunteers for the many events in 2006-07, there are many ways to get involved. The diversity of Queens will be represented by a diversity of events during the Sesquicentennial year, and the University will need a wide range of talents and abilities.
The Sesquicentennial will also offer many opportunities to invest in the future success of Queens University of Charlotte. As needs for new classroom buildings, residence halls and athletic facilities become clearer, the institution will depend on loyal supporters of the past as well as new donors who share the vision of what Queens can be in the future. Please consider how you can be part of the Sesquicenten-nial celebration, perhaps through the establishment of a scholarship, the investment in a new building, or simply the support of a campus program that has touched your life through your connection to Queens.
For more information
on any aspect of the Sesquicentennial, please contact Patton McDowell, Vice President for University Advancement, at 704 337-2268. |
