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SUNY Potsdam to celebrate 200 years March 25 with live music, exhibits, cake, more

Posted 3/22/16

POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam is approaching a big milestone -- the 200th anniversary of the college's founding. SUNY Potsdam will mark the occasion with a bicentennial bash Friday, March 25. On March 25, …

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SUNY Potsdam to celebrate 200 years March 25 with live music, exhibits, cake, more

Posted

POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam is approaching a big milestone -- the 200th anniversary of the college's founding. SUNY Potsdam will mark the occasion with a bicentennial bash Friday, March 25.

On March 25, 1816, an otherwise unremarkable Monday, the New York State Board of Regents signed the document that established the St. Lawrence Academy in Potsdam. Two centuries later, the institution has traced a path through every system of higher education in New York State -- first joining the ranks of the Normal Schools and then the State Teachers Colleges, before finally joining the State University of New York upon its founding in 1948. SUNY Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges, and the oldest institution within SUNY.

SUNY Potsdam will honor its bicentennial with a Charter Day Birthday Bash March 25, at 1 p.m. in the Barrington Student Union. All are welcome to attend the free celebration.

Members of the campus community are encouraged to show Potsdam Pride by wearing SUNY Potsdam gear on March 25. The person wearing the best outfit will win a bundle of bicentennial goodies from the college store.

The party will display a live social media feed showcasing bicentennial best wishes from alumni around the world. Can't make it in person? Share bicentennial best wishes on social media using the hashtag #sunypotsdam200, to have a birthday message shown live at the party/ There will be prizes for the best posts, from far or near.

There will be live music by the Caramelo Trio, featuring Dr. Oscar Sarmiento, professor of modern languages. Guests can get in on the fun and get to know college history through a series of photo booths with historic campus images and props. There will also be DIY stations, to make your own bicentennial felt pennant and commemorative buttons.

Student groups will set up tables in the Barrington Student Union lobby, displaying information about the history of their clubs and organizations. There will also be historic photo banners on display, with images from the past two centuries. Organizers have created a special exhibit to showcase the stories behind the namesakes for every campus building. In addition, there will be a timeline display circling the celebration, with milestones from each decade specially marked by student volunteers.

SUNY Potsdam officials will unveil a newly created historic replica of the St. Lawrence Academy charter at the party. The Potsdam Public Museum and the SUNY Potsdam College Archives and Special Collections recently partnered to have the original charter (a document too delicate for display) specially restored by a historic preservation firm, as well as creating exact reconstructions that can be viewed and enjoyed by the public.

No birthday party would be complete without dessert. PACES Dining Services is creating a large commemorative 3D sculpted cake in the shape of Satterlee Hall, the college's landmark clock tower building. In addition, Rebecca Weld, otherwise known as the “Cookie Architect,” has been asked to create special cookies celebrating the architecture of the college throughout the years. There will also be a sweets station with cupcakes and candy bars in college colors.

The bash will culminate in the singing of "Happy Birthday" and the college's "Alma Mater." Participants can pop confetti canons to ring in SUNY Potsdam's 200th year!

For more information visit www.potsdam.edu/200.