“Acorns are to the oak, [what] eduction is to the future.”
This is the analogy Jayne Fleener, dean of the College of Education, related at the college’s centennial celebration.
The College of Education began its year-long celebration Wednesday afternoon of its 100th birthday with a campus kick-off event.
Fleener is enthusiastic about the celebration of the college’s past and future.
“We are really excited to have a kick off and an opportunity to think not only about our past 100 years, but where we are going for the next 100 years,” Fleener said. “We’ve got some fantastic, excited young faculty that are going to propel us into the next century. We have good traditions to build on.”
Fleener also hopes that the college will contribute to a higher standard of education in not only the state, but the entire country.
The college planted an small oak tree behind Peabody Hall and plans to put together a time capsule with public affair publications and pictures of the year’s centennial celebration.
A timeline of significant benchmarks in the college’s past was unveiled along with a legacy tree. The legacy tree will bear silver, bronze or gold acorns and leaves that can be purchased by faculty and staff as a way to give back to the college. The option of bronze stones will be reserved for endowed professorships.
Steven McCullar, graduate assistant in the College of Education, said he hopes to graduate in August 2009. But he is appreciative of his experience in the college.
“I’m very proud of the College of Education, and it has been a great opportunity for my career,” McCullar said. “I will probably get a leaf, but I’m not sure if I’ll get it now or do it as reward for graduation. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the college.”
The college will host a formal, invite-only event Friday night in Tiger Stadium to continue the celebration of the college’s centennial with LSU System President John Lombardi as a guest speaker.
Angela Broussard with the College of Education’s Public affairs office said they were more than pleased with the turnout at Wednesday’s celebration and are hopeful about Friday.
Attendees received free jambalaya, salad and beverages before being addressed by the dean.
“We had enough jambalaya for 300 people, and we ran out,” Broussard said. “We have about 350 people that have an R.S.V.P for Friday’s celebration.”
—-Contact Megan Williams at [email protected]