News

Hundreds of guests, alumni, and friends gathered on Lee University’s campus on Friday, Sept. 20, for Celebration 2014.

A service of celebration began at 10:30 a.m. on Friday in the Conn Center that included a processional of more than 200 faculty dressed in academic regalia. The service also included performances from Lee’s illustrious Wind Ensemble and a 300-voice Festival Choir.

Following a speech by Lee president Paul Conn to conclude the service, 68 VIP alumni – one for every year of Lee’s history at the current Cleveland location – joined the faculty and board of directors in a march across campus, through a gauntlet of cheering students, toward a reception in the Walker Arena and an open house at the Communication Arts building.

Friday’s classes before 2 p.m. were cancelled in honor of the Celebration event. Students attended one of 45 Friday morning seminars hosted by alumni and other guests across campus. Seminars featured various subjects ranging from sculpture, entrepreneurship, and the nursing profession to servant leadership, music education, and archeology.

Starting with the first Celebration in 1990, Celebration 2014 was the 10th time that Lee University has taken the opportunity to reflect on the university’s successes in this way.

This year’s event marks the half-way mark of the “Find Us Faithful” campaign, launched during the Celebration 2010 event. Highlights of the $25 million campaign include increasing endowment scholarships by two million dollars, acquisition and renovation of the former First Baptist Church buildings, and construction of The Chapel, New Hughes Hall, and the Communication Arts building. The completion of the $10 million state-of-the-art 41,000-square-foot building was a primary focus of the event.