Sept. 28, 2009

DWU Blue & White Days to kick off 125th anniversary celebration

MITCHELL — Nearly 125 years have passed since Dakota Wesleyan University sprang forth from the prairie floor and began a tradition of providing a unique liberal arts education coupled with Methodist values and a desire to produce leaders.

“Sacrifice or service” is a motto stamped on an institution which has survived student-depleting eras of an influenza outbreak, world wars, the Depression, and shaky economies. Despite what is going on in the world around it, Dakota Wesleyan has stood strong, extended its hand to surrounding communities and missions projects around the world, and graduated students who have the will to make a difference.

Dakota Wesleyan will kick off its year-long 125th anniversary celebration with this year’s Blue & White Days beginning Friday with a Founders’ Convocation at 10:30 a.m. in the Sherman Center, where DWU will inaugurate its three colleges and Center for Talent Development. Classes will be dismissed for the convocation so that the campus community as a whole may attend. Four distinguished alumni will also be honored, including Paul and Donna (Starr) Christen; Ted Roman; and Grace (Gonzalez) Cajiuat. This event is open to the public.

As DWU celebrates its history, plans are being made for the future. A group of alumni, named 125 Learn Strong Leaders, will convene on campus Thursday and Friday. During this time, DWU will share information with them about curricular changes, recent successes and future plans, and in turn, these alumni will be asked for their feedback about how to best stay in contact with alumni, and also how DWU might hope to grow. These alumni will also discuss how they would like to see DWU celebrate its quasquicentennial.

The annual Patrons’ Banquet will be Friday night with the pep rally to follow, and alumni and student activities will continue on through Saturday with the 10:30 a.m. homecoming parade down Mitchell’s Main Street, the football game at 1 p.m., volleyball beginning at 7 p.m. and the homecoming dance at 10 p.m. There are also multiple reunions set for this weekend, including an all-class football reunion and the Gordon Fosness reunion, both on Saturday night at the Highland Conference Center.

Click HERE to view a full schedule of events