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Date 3-23-06
Contact David Tisdale 601.266.4499
HATTIESBURG—The
University of Southern Mississippi will celebrate its 96th anniversary
on March 30 with a slate of Founders’ Day activities scheduled for
the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses. The day’s events on the
Hattiesburg campus begin with a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on the north
side of the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building (the rain site
will be the R.C. Cook Student Union lobby) on the Hattiesburg campus.
Vice President
for Student Affairs Joe Paul will emcee the event, which features
the presentation of Southern Miss’ most prestigious awards to outstanding
faculty, staff and students; the inauguration of the 2006 Student
Government Association president and other newly elected officers;
and a reflection of Southern Miss’ past, present and future from
President Shelby Thames.
The ceremony
will conclude with the singing of the university’s alma mater by
Dr. Kimberley Davis, associate professor in the Southern Miss Department
of Music.
“The focus
of Founders’ Day is to remember the history and traditions of this
great university while honoring some of our most outstanding students,”
said Bob Pierce, executive director of the Southern Miss Alumni
Association. “The Alumni Association has long recognized the importance
of this occasion, but this year several university departments have
come together to make the day bigger and better than ever before.”
While the main
event begins at 1:30 p.m., other Founders’ Day activities will take
place that morning at Southern Miss Gulf Coast campuses and in Hattiesburg.
Refreshments will be served throughout the day on the Gulf Coast,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., President Shelby Thames will
host The Hall of Fame Recognition Brunch at his home.
At 3 p.m., a
reception will be held at the Power House Courtyard (rain site will
be the Polly Stout Room in the University Commons). From 3:30-7
p.m., the Southern Miss Student Honor Organization will hold its
initiation ceremonies at the Student Union, and an Official Ring
Presentation ceremony for Southern Miss juniors and seniors who
have purchased their rings will be held at the Polymer Science Auditorium
at 6 p.m.
The evening
will wind down to the tunes of the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra,
which will present Tchaikovsky at Bennett Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
“The University
of Southern Mississippi has a proud tradition of delivering quality
academic services, both in Hattiesburg and on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast, and as we approach our 100th anniversary and recover from
Hurricane Katrina, we are daily maintaining and building on that
commitment,” said Dr. Pat Joachim, associate provost for Southern
Miss Gulf Coast.
For more information
about Founders’ Day, contact the Southern Miss Alumni Association
at 601.266.5013. To view the schedule of events, visit http://www.usm.edu/pr/releases/2006/mar/founders_schedule.htm.
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