BUIES CREEK, North Carolina — Campbell University will hold its 2nd Founders Week Feb. 1-6 to celebrate the university and its founding in 1887. Several of this year’s events and activities will pay homage to the Scottish heritage of Founding President J.A. Campbell.
On Friday, Feb. 5, for example, the Campus Activities Board will host the Highland Games. Student groups from across the campus will compete from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the Academic Circle in a modified version of the athletics competition that features tug-o-war, caber tossing, relay races, and other classic Scottish games. Free Founders Week T-shirts will be distributed to students during the Highland Games.
In addition, Scottish bagpipers will play immediately before the Heritage Game on Saturday, Feb. 6, between the Fighting Camels men’s basketball team and UNC-Asheville. The game starts at 2 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to come dressed like the university’s founding president for the J.A. Campbell Look-A-Like Contest. A $250 cash prize will be awarded to the contest winner during halftime. Also, the first 500 students will receive a bobblehead that has Gaylord dressed like J.A. Campbell.
“The tradition of Founders Week was established to enrich our student’s Campbell experience and to help instill a sense of pride and appreciation for our alma mater,” said Sarah Swain, assistant vice president for alumni engagement and chair of the Founders Week Planning Committee, which included 15 faculty and staff from across the campus. “Understanding Campbell’s past helps our students and alumni better understand the dedication so many have committed to ensure Campbell’s success over that past 129 years.”
Campbell introduced Founders Week last year to provide students, faculty, staff and alumni with more opportunities to learn about the university’s history and to honor those who made the school possible, including Founding President J.A. Campbell.
Founders Week 2016 begins Monday, Feb. 1, with the unveiling of a museum-like exhibit about the university’s history in Wiggins Memorial Library. The display focuses on the university’s motto – “Ad Astra per Aspera, or “To the Stars through Difficulties” — and will be open throughout the week.
Another highlight during the week is Wednesday’s Campbell Day, a day-long celebration of Campbell in which students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are encouraged to do the following:
Wear Orange, take a selfie, and post to social media with #CampbellDay hashtag.
Share on social media the opportunities Campbell has afforded you and tag #CampbellDay.
Make a gift to support scholarships.
Also on Campbell Day, there will be a celebration to mark Campbell’s 129 years near the J.A. Campbell statue from 10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. Campbell Giving will distribute cupcakes and clappers to students and a short ceremony will include comments from Campbell President J. Bradley Creed. After the ceremony, President Creed and his wife, Kathy, will stay around for a bit to enjoy cocoa and cupcakes with students.
“Our hope is that students will embrace this week of Campbell heritage, appreciate the university’s rich history, and deepen their love for the university,” Swain said.
A full list of the Campbell FoundersWeek events open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni follows. Organizers include Alumni Engagement, Athletics, Campus Activities Board, Annual Giving, University Archives, Student Life, the Student Alumni Association, and Wiggins Memory Library.
Monday, Feb. 1-Saturday, Feb. 6
Campbell University History Exhibit
Regular Library Hours | Wiggins Memorial Library
The 2016 museum-like display will look at the university’s motto: “Ad Astra per Aspera, or “to the stars through difficulties.”
Tuesday, Feb. 2
17th Annual Religion Department Lecture
Afternoon Session: 2:30 p.m. | Taylor Hall 118
Evening Session: 7 p.m. | Butler Chapel
Campbell President J. Bradley Creed will deliver the 17th Annual Religion Department Lecture Series. In the afternoon session, he will present on “Yankee Ingenuity and the Grace of God: Portraits of Three Antebellum American Baptists,” and in the evening on “From Margin to Mainstream: Perspectives on Baptist Higher Education in the United States.”
Wednesday, Feb. 3
#CampbellDay
All Day | Anywhere
Participate in the largest engagement day in the university’s history by wearing orange, sharing on social media the opportunities Campbell has afforded you, and making a gift to support student scholarships.
#CampbellDay Celebration
10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.| J.A. Campbell statue, Academic Circle
The celebration will pay tribute to Founding President J.A. Campbell, mark the one-year anniversary of the installation of his statue on campus, include short comments from President Creed,and free clappers, cocoa, and cupcakes while supplies last.
Update: Due to the projected rain, the Campbell Day ceremony will be held in Turner Auditorium immediately following Connections.
Thursday, Feb. 4
University History Trivia Night
7 p.m. | Rumley Center
Steve Bahnaman, Campbell Librarian and trivia guru who was the top performer on ABC’s “500 Questions” game show last summer, will host the event and test your knowledge on university history. Pizza and prizes.
Friday, Feb. 5
Highland Games
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Academic Circle
Be part of a team of 10 students and compete in Campbell’s version of a Scottish tradition. #CampbellFoundersWeek T-shirt will be distributed during the games. Sign up for the Highland Games.
Saturday, Feb. 6
Heritage Game (Men’s basketball hosts UNC-Asheville)
2 p.m. | Gore Arena
First 500 students receive the 2016 Founders Week edition of the Gaylord bobblehead. Athletics will also host the second J.A. Campbell Look-A-Like contest, so come dressed like the founding president for the chance to win $250. Scottish bagpipers will play before the game.