Convocation to Kick Off Centennial Celebration

August 28, 2009

With the theme "Proudly Stand on Bison Hill: The First 100 Years," the OBU community will mark a century of steadfast achievement beginning with convocation Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. The convocation, which traditionally marks the beginning of the academic year, will launch an 18-month celebration of OBU's centennial anniversary.

Dr. David Whitlock, president of OBU, will speak during the event, slated for 10 a.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. He will reflect on the university's past accomplishments and highlight plans for OBU's next century. New faculty and staff also will be introduced.

"In the spring of 2005, a Centennial Committee was appointed to plan and coordinate the celebration of OBU's 100th anniversary," said John Parrish, chair of the Centennial Committee and executive vice president emeritus. "More than four years have passed, and now we begin the process of honoring OBU's rich history and heritage for the next 16 months. I think that I can speak for all committee members in saying that we are pleased to reach this point and that we look forward to a great celebration. We invite all of our alumni and friends in the Shawnee area to join us in our various events and activities."

The centennial celebration will continue throughout the 2009-10 academic year and culminate at the end of December 2010. For a list of centennial celebration highlights, a glimpse at OBU's history, a pictorial athletic history and the centennial book series, go online to www.okbu.edu/100.