Norwich University President Richard W Schneider will announce the university’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in its history. Called “Forging the Future,” the campaign kicks off Friday at a special gala during the university’s Homecoming 2014 celebration. University officials expect some 3,000 guests, more than half alumni, on campus over the course of the weekend, with events running Thursday, September 18, through Sunday, September 21. Schneider’s announcement will officially begin the five-year countdown to Norwich’s bicentennial in 2019 when the university will celebrate its 200th anniversary and step into its third century of service to the nation.
Friday’s gala dinner in Shapiro Field House kicks off Homecoming weekend festivities with alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends. The evening includes an inspiring program to launch the “Forging the Future” campaign featuring the Norwich Shock Platoon drill team, recognition of donors, and a special musical tribute to begin the university’s “Year of Service.”
“As we approach our bicentennial, our goal is to raise the funds to make Norwich’s next 200 years even greater than the last—with cutting-edge majors, world-class facilities and greater opportunities for all through scholarships and affordable tuition,” Schneider said. “The Forging the Future campaign is committed to creating the best possible learning environment to fulfill our mission to train and educate today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders.”
Other weekend highlights include:
· Debut of Norwich’s Bicentennial Beer: Norwich has partnered with 14th Star Brewery in St. Albans, founded by Norwich alum and Iraq and Afghan wars veteran Steve Gagner, to offer an Amber Ale called Citizen Soldier, the first in a series of five bicentennial beers.
· NU Concert Band – the nation’s oldest collegiate band – releases its new CD, “The Mountains, The Mist, and The Music,” recorded live at the Barre Opera House in November 2013.
· School of Architecture + Art presents the first in a series of lectures by summer research fellows on Friday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. in Chaplin Hall Gallery.
· School of Architecture + Art’s “Archistream,” a refurbished 1969 Airstream trailer that serves as mobile design ambassador and classroom, will open for tours Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.- noon at the crescent on Route 14.
· Welcome to NU’99 Anh Brown at the conclusion of his 1,560-mile fundraising bicycle ride from Fla. to Northfield, Vt., to raise over $3,500 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu
Source: Norwich 9.15.2014