Oct. 4, 2023, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the institution's founder Edward Austin Sheldon, shown surrounded by a class during the 1890s.
The third annual Founder’s Weekend, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, will include the popular Green and Gold Day group photo, alumni celebrations, recognition of university founder Edward Austin Sheldon’s 200th birthday and more.
The Green and Gold campus photo invites Laker students, faculty, staff and alumni to gather at 12:45 p.m. for a 1 p.m. photo on Friday, Sept. 29. Attendees should wear green and/or gold and meet on the Academic Quad for the group picture, followed by refreshments and an Edward Austin Sheldon birthday celebration in the Marano Campus Center food and activity court. The first 150 students to show up for the photo will receive a free Oswego water bottle.
Sheldon scholar and educator Don Little ’91 M’94 M’15 will present “Honoring our Founder: The Life and Legacy of Edward Austin Sheldon” at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in 133 Marano Campus Center. Sheldon’s life and legacy go well beyond founding the institution, and all are invited to this free presentation.
In addition, the Penfield Library archives will host an exhibit titled “Eat, Drink and Sleep Schools: Celebrating 200 Years of Edward Austin Sheldon” in its Barbara Palmer Shineman Research Room (Room 8). With an opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, the exhibit includes photographs, teaching objects, personal items of Sheldon and more.
Other aspects of Founder’s Weekend include:
- the arrival of the 11th president of SUNY Oswego, Dr. Peter O. Nwosu;
- a reunion of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) alumni;
- the Communication Studies triennial dinner;
- the men’s lacrosse reunion/46th Annual Ron Humphreys '77 Memorial Alumni Classic;
- the 9th annual Scholar's Brunch;
- the African, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA) Multicultural Student Leadership Conference and more
“We’re excited to be able to host these spirit-building events that bring together our dedicated alumni with our students who are eager to absorb as much as they can from their Oswego experiences, including building their professional networks,” said Vice President of University Advancement Mary Gibbons Canale ’81.
“Unlike our Reunion Weekend in June, this fall celebration provides the framework to host alumni on campus while our students are here and encourages synergies between various populations of the Laker community to develop,” Canale said. “Plus, this year with the arrival of our new president, Dr. Nwosu, coinciding with the 200th birthday of our university founder, Dr. Sheldon, we are able to reinforce the concept that today’s accomplishments build on the solid foundation laid by our founders and is carried into the future through our current leader’s vision. Founder’s Weekend brings together our past with our future.”
For more information on Founder's Weekend activities, visit alumni.oswego.edu/founders.