On Friday, Feb. 3, Union University continued its Bicentennial celebration with Founder’s Day, an all-day celebration including a special Founder’s Day Chapel Service and a Birthday Party to honor the university officially turning 200 years old.
The 10 a.m. Founder’s Day Chapel service included worship, interviews, and appearances by the university’s past presidents David Dockery and Hyran Barefoot, and the current president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver.
“We look back today celebrating 200 years of something quite distinctive in the history of Christian higher education, I don’t know of another institution that has lasted for two centuries and remained faithful to its mission and kept the Christian faith intact,” Dockery said. “That is something very special to celebrate.”
Several of the university’s alumni and current students—such as Student Government President Ethan Voss—also had roles in the service.
The come-and-go 200th Birthday Celebration was from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Carl Grant Center, where attendees received special Founders Day t-shirts, enjoyed refreshments and played Pin the Bowtie on Dr. Dub.
Additionally, students were able to drop off unique items to be placed into the university’s Bicentennial time capsule.
These events were a chance for the Union community to come together and reflect on the university’s past, while also looking forward to its future.
Katie Patton, a sophomore art therapy major, attended both the Chapel service and the Bicentennial Birthday Party.
“It’s really cool to be able to be a part of the group that got to experience Union during its 200th year as a part of the student body,” Patton said. “It definitely is a big deal .”
Union University was founded on Feb. 3, 1823, and was originally named the Jackson Male Academy. The university has faced challenges and embraced opportunities throughout the past 200 years that include events such as the fire of 1912, the expansion of property and buildings that began in 1995 and the tornado of 2008.
Union also released a Bicentennial Documentary about the university’s history that can be found on the Union University Youtube channel.
To watch the documentary, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMenbnqlogE