Countdown Begins to NSU Centennial Celebration

Countdown Begins to NSU Centennial Celebration

TAHLEQUAH With the push of a button, Northeastern State University officially launched the Centennial Countdown on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The clock, which is on display in the Administration Building, will countdown the time until Founders Day on March 6, 1909, when NSU will officially begin the Centennial Celebration. Founders Day marks the 100th anniversary of the Oklahoma Legislature authorizing the purchase of Seminary Hall and the surrounding land from the Cherokee Nation to create Northeastern State Normal School.

I want to thank all of you for turning out tonight in expression of your support for this community and this university, said NSU President Dr. Don Betz in during remarks to the hundreds of people packed into the University Center Sen. Herb Rozell Ballroom. This is Northeasterns home, this is our mother ship and this is where we will stay for the next 100 years.

Due to rain, the Community Picnic scheduled to launch the Centennial Countdown was moved from Beta Field to the ballroom.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith emphasized the Cherokee roots of the university.

Northeastern State University was originally founded by the Cherokees as the Cherokee National Female Seminary, said Smith. After the infamous Trail of Tears, the first thing we built was the Supreme Court Building and the second thing we built was Seminary. The Cherokees have always placed a high value on education.

Education has always been an important priority for the citizens of Tahlequah, said Mayor Ken Purdy.

Nearly 100 years ago, the people of this community made education a priority, said Purdy. Tahlequah is excited about this institution and the things that will happen here in the next 100 years.

Jay Hannah, NSU Centennial Campaign chair, encouraged everyone to get involved in the countdown and Centennial Celebration and to give back through both volunteerism and financial contributions.

There has always been a Northeastern spirit here, going back to the Seminary days, said Hannah. Its the spirit of the individuals at this university that make being at Northeastern so great.

Northeastern Student Government Association President Alice Lawson thanked the students of the last century for building a tradition of excellence for the current generation to aspire to.

In addition to giveaways, free food, and numerous educational and cultural activities, Oklahoma country band South 40 provided entertainment.

Volunteers from the Cherokee Nation demonstrated basket weaving, pottery spinning, and how to make stickballs and cornstalk dolls. A storyteller shared tradition Cherokee tales, and the History on Main Street Project displayed historic photos and information.

Volunteers from the Murrell home dressed as people from the 1850s, 1909, and other historic dates in NSUs history and demonstrated cloth spinning and weaving, and Games of Grace, or games that taught young ladies how to be graceful.

For a complete schedule of NSU Centennial Countdown and NSU Centennial events, visit www.nsuok.edu/centennial.

8/22/2008

Published: 2008-08-22 00:00:00