Public invited to get in on the Maryville College Homecoming action at annual Founder’s Day events
Oct. 14, 2024
For the second year in a row, the annual Founder’s Day celebration during Homecoming Weekend at Maryville College will serve as a showcase for the arts, a celebration of alumni achievement, and an unveiling of new initiatives by MC President Dr. Bryan F. Coker.
During Founder’s Day 2022, Coker announced the Witherspoon Lecture Series, an ongoing production that continues Oct. 29 when Deaf mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger will present the program “Climbing Over Obstacles.” In 2023, he announced that the College had recently been awarded a $2.25 million Title III grant, which even now continues to change the academic landscape at Maryville College.
While any revelations for 2024 — which takes place at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre of the Clayton Center for the Arts — are being kept under wraps, it’s always an exciting time for alumni to learn more about the initiatives that will continue to future-proof their beloved alma mater, as well as an evening to both reminisce and rejoice through performances from various Division of Fine Arts ensembles, said Jennifer Phillips Triplett ’07, director of Alumni Affairs.
“Homecoming is always a whirlwind of activity, but Founder’s Day is a great way for us all — alumni, current students, faculty, staff and even members of the public — to come together in the Clayton Center, remember why we love this institution so much, and celebrate what makes it so special,” Triplett said. “This year, Maryville College is 205 years old, so there’s a lot of history to reflect on! This Homecoming, we’re not just celebrating our milestone reunion classes (the classes of 1964, 1974 and 1984); we’re also marking the 50th anniversary of the American Sign Language-English Interpreting program.
“Fifty years ago, Maryville College became the first four-year school in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in that field, and we’ll be marking that occasion all year — including at Founder’s Day, when, for the first time, an ASL choir will be a part of the performances.”
Other student organizations — the MC Tartanband (which doubles as the Pep Band), the Maryville College Concert Choir, the smaller vocal ensemble Off Kilter, and Maryville College Theatre students (performing the opening scene of “Steel Magnolias,” which runs in full Oct. 17-20 in the Clayton Center’s Haslam Family Flexible Theatre) — will also share the stage during Founder’s Day, which takes place in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre of the Clayton Center for the Arts on the MC campus. The Homecoming Choir, an ensemble that combines student singers with alumni whose voices once rang from MC stages as students themselves, will also perform during the showcase.
“And we’re not forgetting the visual arts! Current MC art students will exhibit their works during Homecoming weekend in the DENSO Gallery of the Clayton Center,” Triplett added. “So many of our alumni have fond memories of their own participation in these groups and organizations, and we want to both remind them of those beloved times, and demonstrate that the arts are as important as ever at their alma mater.”
In addition to Coker’s remarks, the annual Alumni Awards will be presented to the previously named recipients: Jill Kinsinger Koss ’80 will receive the Alumni Citation, and the Kin Takahashi Award for Young Alumni will be given to Joshua ’18 and Molly Ridgeway Anderson ’18.
“Molly and Josh are being recognized for their work with the Tennessee Legislature, which they lobbied to accept ASL textbooks and curriculum to satisfy foreign language course requirements for a Tennessee high school diploma, and to require public state universities to accept ASL courses as a part of college entrance requirements,” Triplett said.
The fourth citation, the MC Distinguished Service Award, also has ties to the ASL program: Recipient Magaret A. “Peggy” Maher ’78, recognized during a small ceremony at the beginning of the academic year, is an alumna and a 30-year veteran faculty member of the ASL-English Interpreting program. While she will be unable to attend the showcase, her award will be noted during Coker’s remarks.
While Founder’s Day gets underway at 6 p.m., alumni from all generations can make their way to the Clayton Center at 4 p.m., when the President’s Welcome Reception takes place in the William Baxter Lee III Grand Foyer. Featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer brewed by Fermentation Sciences students and faculty and a selection of wines, the reception also doubles as a reunion gathering for classes ending in 4 and 9. A special performance by alumni members of Off Kilter, along with remarks by Coker in recognition of supporters of the College, are part of the reception’s program, Triplett said.
“Last year’s reception was so well-attended and so much fun that we’ve expanded it and moved it to the more open foyer, from which guests can stroll over to the DENSO Gallery to check out the student art exhibit,” Triplett said. “It’s the perfect way to start the weekend for those alums who are just arriving: learning more about what’s happening at our alma mater and what our impressive students are up to; seeing friends in a relaxed and festive environment; and getting into the Homecoming spirit ahead of all of the events and activities that follow on Saturday!”
Open to all alumni and members of the community, the cost is $15 per person through Oct. 11, after which time it increases to $20 (and free for President’s Circle level donors to the College). Advance tickets can be purchased by registering for Homecoming on the website, or in person at the Homecoming Registration desk on Friday, Oct. 25.
“Founder’s Day helps us maintain connections with our roots as an institution ‘of and for the region,’ and it also allows us to celebrate the individuals who have helped to keep it that way,” said Suzy Booker, vice president of Advancement. “The generosity of our alumni and our supporters knows no bounds, and we look forward to recognizing them at the President’s Reception, and honoring them through the presentation of our annual Alumni Awards during the Founder’s Day showcase itself.”