A Golden Celebration — College at Florham Celebrates 50th Year

In its 50th year, the College at Florham is celebrating past achievements and looking forward to greater accomplishments. In a message to the campus community, Kenneth Greene, campus provost (Flor), said, “We have grown from a very small campus of fewer than 100 students in 1958 to a complex college with over 2,500 undergraduates and almost 1,000 graduate students. For 50 years, members of the College at Florham community have been working together to provide help and support for our students. It is a tradition that we can all be proud of and that will guide us in our next 50 years.”

To celebrate its golden anniversary, the College at Florham is hosting a special yearlong series of events and activities.

Photography Exhibit

Archived photographs of the College at Florham — including images of the Vanderbilt-Twombly estate — as well as samples of publications printed during the campus’s early years are on display at the College at Florham Library until Friday, October 17. The exhibit, “Photographs and Memorabilia From the Early Days: College at Florham, 50th Anniversary, 1958–2008, may be viewed from Mon.–Thu., 8:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun., 2–10 p.m. For information call 973-443-8515 or 973-443-8516.

Trivia Contest

History buffs can try their hand at the monthly trivia contest — with each month focusing on a particular decade. This month’s trivia question focuses on the college and events of the 1950s. Prizes will be awarded each month to a student and a faculty/staff member whose entry is randomly selected from correct responses. Winners will receive either a $75 gift certificate to the campus bookstore or a $75 deposit to their Fairleigh 1Card account.

The contest is open to all full- and part-time students, faculty and staff. Entry forms are in the Student Center and the Great Hall of Hennessy Hall (Mansion). Just tear off an entry form, answer the questions and put the completed form in one of the contest boxes. Participants can use any form of research to find the answers to the questions, including working with other students or faculty/staff members. However, each person can submit only one entry each month. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Each month’s winners will be announced during the week following the closing of the contest. This month’s contest will close on September 30.

Homecoming and Family Weekend

This year’s Homecoming and Family Weekend will be held at the College at Florham on October 10–12. Events and activities include a pep rally, alumni awards, VIP picnic, a charity carnival and activities fair, homecoming football game, campus tours and video presentations. For more details see Homecoming and Alumni/Family Weekend this issue (http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/0809/weekends.html).

The Ten

“Something to Sing About: Selections Spanning the Half Century,” a concert by The Ten, an a capella group, will be held on Sunday, October 26, at 3 p.m., in Lenfell Hall, Hennessy Hall (Mansion). The concert is sponsored by the Friends of Florham, who invite you to celebrate the College at Florham’s 50th anniversary. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $25; a reception is included. For information call 201-692-7008.

The Ten singing group.

Events planned for the remainder of the year include the Student Government Association Induction ceremony, a performance of the musical “Guys and Dolls,” a tree-planting ceremony, a talent show, the creation of a time capsule, an antique car show and the Senior Dinner and Candlelighting Ceremony.

Also in his remarks to the campus community, Greene said, “The most important progress has come in our academic programs. We have added new majors and minors, expanded the University Honors Program, introduced the Florham Scholars Program and enhanced study abroad. We have also moved our academic programs beyond the classrooms through programs such as “Hot Topics” and trips to Washington; New York; Philadelphia; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to visit museums, art exhibits, theaters, research sites and financial centers. Our academic programs are stronger now than they have ever been. If a member of our community had left us in 1995 and not returned until 2008, he or she would not recognize us. Our progress in facilities, student affairs and academics has been dramatic. But one thing they would recognize is our concern for our students and for each other.”