2 minute read
100 Years in the Making
by McMurry
Centennial Kickoff Rally
Following Convocation, attendees filed outside to retrieve a white Centennial T-shirt and head to the Quad for a commemorative photo.
As people approached the center of the Quad in front of Old Main, they could see the faint outline of the number 100 lightly spray-painted on the grass. With the help of the band director and a team of volunteers, several hundred students, faculty, staff, and alumni filled the “100” and waved for the special photo as a drone flew overhead. Once the photo was taken, the Centennial Kickoff Rally officially began. Dr. Sandra S. Harper, surrounded by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Redcoats and a crew of McMurry University dignitaries from different decades, cut the ribbon and proclaimed the Centennial year open. The bright white Centennial flag was raised just below the Stars and Stripes. A new sculpture was unveiled depicting the Centennial logo in 3D, a favorite spot for selfies during the event, which will rest in front of Old Main throughout the next year.
–Mike Hutchison ’87
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Students, faculty, alumni, and friends then enjoyed a taco bar lunch and dessert from Dad’s Ice Cream truck as they gathered around the Quad to reminisce and enjoy the sunshine.
The kickoff ended with a Centennial Scavenger Hunt. Students received clues about different areas of campus and their historical significance. Each clue led to another until student teams made their way around campus and back to the Quad. Energized by the food and prospect of wealth — cash prizes — the students raced at lightning pace to finish the hunt. Ultimately, September 22, 2022, could not have happened without 100 years’ worth of love for McMurry. The University is grateful to all those who have contributed to McMurry’s success — past, present, and FUTURE.
