Plans for Centennial announced

During Founder's Day ceremonies Monday, celebrating the university's 99th anniversary, much of the attention was directed to the events planned for the Centennial in 2010.

Preparations officially started two years ago to plan what will be a 12 month long celebration of our university's legislative founding.

"A Centennial is the ideal opportunity for Southern Miss to put it's best foot forward," Saunders said. "And through the selection of celebratory programming that reflect the mission, history and future of Southern Miss, we believe that we have laid the foundation for a top notch 100-years celebration."

Events on campus in 2010 will be centered on five key focus areas which include: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Founders Day, and History and Traditions. Over 30 events are planned so far.

The Centennial kickoff event will be the Voice of the Century Concert event featuring Renee Fleming, and will also be Mississippi's premiere cultural event of 2010. The Centennial Founder's Week, a year from now, will hold many big events like the University Service Initiative kick-off, Southern Miss Student Leader Reunion, Black and Gold Centennial Gala and Founder's day Celebration and Community Picnic. There will also be a Centennial Concert, though the artist, date, and location are still being determined. The whole list of planned activities can be read at www. usm.edu/centennial.

Students can still give their input and ideas concerning next years celebrations by going online to www.usm.edu/centennial and sending the Centennial Committee an e-mail. The Centennial Steering Committee is made up of more than 40 members, led by Honorary Chair Dr. Aubrey Lucas, president emeritus of USM; Chairs Rex Kelly, a former Alumni Association president, and Dr. Alvin Williams, interim dean of the College of Business. The staff is led by Ray Guy, centennial special projects manager, and Jennifer Payne, centennial celebration coordinator.

During the ceremony Monday, Saunders revealed what will be the cover of a limited edition book to be released next year entitled "A Treasured Past, a Golden Future: The Centennial History of the University of Southern Mississippi." The 256-page book is written by Southern Miss alum Dr. Chester "Bo" Morgan, and published by the University Press of Mississippi. It will provide an in-depth look at the university's history and feature more than 500 photographs, some of which have never been published.

"I am very excited about this project," Saunders said. "It offers us a tangible way to reach our rich heritage and share how a rural teacher's college developed into the premiere research institute of the Gulf South." The book will be available for pre-release sales in the fall.