Meredith Celebrates 125 Years of Going Strong

Highlights of Meredith College’s 125th anniversary, February 22-27, included a poetry contest, a Meredith-focused exhibit at the City of Raleigh Museum, and the unveiling of a new historical marker on campus. The week culminated with campus-wide celebrations of Meredith’s 125 years of Going Strong and the announcement of the goal for Beyond Strong | The Campaign for Meredith.

Poet and English faculty member Robert Rubin reads his poem, The Girls, which won the Meredith College 125 Poetry Contest. Rubin read his work during one of the anniversary events. 

 Josephine Cooper, ’67, Beyond Strong campaign co-chair, announced the campaign goal,   and  shared that the College   had already raised over $55 million.

Through We CAN Do It, a canned food drive, the College collected more than 1,125 food     items for the Food Bank of Eastern and   Central North Carolina.

  A new historical marker sits at the front of   campus, and proclaims      the College’s   place in   North Carolina history.

The 125th anniversary fell during an   Alice in Wonderland year, so it was appropriate   for Alice   and her friends to make a   special   appearance for the Mad     Hatter’s Tea, held in Belk Dining   Hall. The party featured an Alice-   themed menu, including a giant, multi-tiered cake, tea, finger   sandwiches, and other treats.

Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane (right) presents President Jo Allen, ’80, with the City’s official    proclamation in honor of Meredith   College. The State of North Carolina also sent a   proclamation for the occasion.

 February 27, the official date Meredith’s charter was granted in 1891, included a campus   open house, with trolley rides   to the City of Raleigh Museum, an alumnae artist exhibit, and a   display of a time capsule created by students for the     anniversary.

The City of Raleigh Museum featured an “Angels in the City of Oaks: 125 Years of Meredith   College History” exhibition for the month of February. Visitors enjoyed a visual journey   through 125 years of Meredith College history through artifacts that told the story of the   College and the women who have attended the institution since its founding in Raleigh.

Students, faculty, and staff got into the spirit during a Throwback Thursday lip sync competition.

Watch a playlist of videos from the celebration events at youtube.com/meredithcollege.