A homecoming for the history books

RELEASED: Oct. 20, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Homecoming 2005 was among the most event-filled and idyllic alumni gatherings in recent years. For pictures of the 2005 Centre Homecoming, click here to see the photo page.

In addition to the customary festivities—alumni reunions, football and soccer games, the homecoming dance—there was the dedication of The College Centre, the recently opened, state-of-the-art academic/athletic complex. The College Centre's dedication was celebrated at a convocation Thursday evening and a ribbon-joining ceremony Friday afternoon. The Friday ceremony included the surprise announcement of a new residence hall to be built with a gift from Centre trustee Robert Brockman '63.

At the Thursday dedication convocation in Newlin Hall, the featured speaker was William G. Bowen, former president of Princeton University and current president of the Mellon Foundation. Bowen's speech, titled "Why You Came," was an insightful look at the role of sports on campuses, the importance of commitment to social mobility and the challenges facing small colleges in today's world. (The transcript of his speech is available here http://www.centre.edu/web/news/2005/whyyoucame05.html)

The official dedication and ribbon-joining ceremony took place on Friday at the arch between Crounse and Sutcliffe halls, the two components of The College Centre. George Ella Hoskins Lyon '71 read a commissioned poem, "CENTRED," at the arch between Crounse and Sutcliffe Halls. Lyon says of the work, "I was honored to be asked to write a poem and had deep fun working on it. The more I wrote, the more I remembered, and that was a gift."

Lyon added that she's curious to hear if the poem prompted anyone else's memories, and welcomes comments, which should be sent care of the Communications Office. (CENTRED in pdf format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can get it here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).

Also commissioned for the dedication was a trumpet piece by Centre music professor Larry Bitensky, an award-winning composer, called "Fanfare."

Lyons' poem and Bowen's speech will be included in a special booklet commemorating the dedication of The College Centre. The booklet will also include an introduction by Centre President John A. Roush, and essays by Library Director Stan Campbell and Charles Vahlkamp, professor emeritus of French, who served for many years as Centre's faculty representative to the NCAA.

At the end of the dedication, President Roush announced plans for the new residence hall, which is to be named Pearl Hall in memory of donor Brockman's mother and grandmother, who were both named Pearl. It will be dedicated in 2009, 50 years after Brockman arrived on campus as a freshman.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

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