Mariah Pepe
The Paw Print
The two-day celebration that took place on Aug. 23 and 24 opened with a Welcome Back Alumni Reception. From 1 to 3 p.m., alumni were welcomed to mingle and grab a snack before the other events kicked off.
Donald McCallister, who graduated in December of 1950, attended with his wife Cora Lee. McCallister, a Business major, says, “We have been coming to the Homecoming game every year since we moved back to the Valley in 2000. We like to be very involved.”
At 2 p.m., the Luther Bean Museum opened, where Adams State mementos decorate what used to be the school’s old library. There is a beautiful green and white quilt with signatures of students and faculty from 1931 to 1935, a typewriter that belonged to Governor and Adams State founder Billy Adams, rare European and Asian sculptures donated by the Woodard family, a phonograph from the original women’s dormitory Casa Bonita, and much more. A popular area in the museum was in front of the yearbooks where alumni, such as Keith and Claudette Fischer and Don Stegman bonded over past classes and professors. Stegman also used to serve as a professor at Adams State.
Attendees had the opportunity to attend the movie “Black Holes: the Other Side of Infinity” in the newly renovated Planetarium. The 30 minute film was informational and showed off the new abilities of the advanced equipment that was installed in the Planetarium over the summer. Facing all one direction, “it was like racing through space,” said Raul Sanchez, an Adams State senior.
Finally, there was a Luau on the North Campus Green that provided a variety of Hawaiian foods as well as luau dancing and music. Students, faculty, and alumni took part in the festivities that closed with an evening concert from the Adams State band.
On the second day, the festivities opened with the debut of the University Sculpture by Dana Provence. The piece aims to celebrate the three phases of Adams State history as Adams State Normal School, Adams State College, and Adams State University. Provence created three pillars of stone, bronze, and stainless steel to represent the three phases respectively. “The materials possess the character, ideas, and mission of the institution through each phase,” said Provence. The piece will soon be located in the planters on the west side of the Student Union Building, although the stainless steel pillar is still being finished.
Following this, many local writers along with the Adams State improvisation group graced campus with a poetry reading in the Nielsen Library.
The celebration closed with the official Great Stories Celebration. Adams State President, Dr. Svaldi; Board of Trustees representative, Mary Griffin; Student representative to the Board of Trustees, Kenneth Scally; Associated Students and Faculty President Matthew Martinez; among many others celebrated the school’s development through its name change. Also a cause for celebration is the continuing rise in enrollment, the strong and improving athletic teams, and the constant efforts of all on campus to continue improving Adams State’s future. The event ended in a festive note with the Univeristy’s fight song.
What’s Been Said…