Rain or shine, there is glory enough in this history for us all.
Potential weather issues will move tomorrow’s Our Century as Lions Celebration to the Sam Rayburn Student Center. Please note the change in times and locations as detailed below.
The Grand Event
On March 10, Texas A&M University-Commerce will celebrate its centennial as a public institution of higher education. The small, private college originally known as East Texas Normal College began as a privately funded teacher’s college in Cooper, Texas. Through the visionary efforts of founder William Leonidas Mayo, the college’s appeal to become a state institution was granted by the state legislature in the spring of 1917. Professor Mayo’s long-held dream of making a college education an affordable reality for Texans was realized, but Mayo did not live to learn of his triumph. The telegram announcing the good news arrived minutes after Mayo’s passing.
We will honor our 100 years of history as Lions with a number of events designed to celebrate our institution’s history and how we are going to make our next 100 years even more inspiring. Please join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Sam Rayburn Student Center for a morning rich with new music, food, fun and an exciting look at where our great university has been and what the future holds for our next century as Lions.
Schedule of Events
9:30 a.m. Welcome reception on the second floor of the Student Center
10 a.m. Our Century as Lions Program in Conference Rooms A&B
Connecting our past and our future—Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams
Looking forward to our next 100 years—President Ray Keck
Remarks delivered by Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp
Remarks delivered by Representative Dan Flynn and
Senator Bob Hall
Perspectives on the New Nursing and Health Sciences Building—Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith, Department of Health and Human Performance
Dr. Barbara Tucker, Department of Nursing
Dr. Larry Lemanski, Biological Institute for Regenerative Research
The memorial garden project—Vincent Phillips, Class of 2016
Our Alma Mater—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir and Choral
Nursing and Health Science Building Groundbreaking Ceremony
Original Fanfare, “Leonidas”, created to celebrate our 100 years as Lions—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir
Welcome and introductions—President Ray Keck
Presentations and proclamations—Senator Bob Hall and Representative Dan Flynn
Our Guest Speakers
- Student body president—Will Horton
- Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp
Our Century as Lions - President Emeritus Dr. Keith McFarland
Connecting with Century as Lions and looking forward to our next event—Vice President for Media Relations and Community Engagement, Noah Nelson
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Fight Song—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir
11 a.m. Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Nursing and Health Sciences Building on the north patio of the Student Center
Connecting our past and our future—Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams
Looking forward to our next 100 years—President Ray Keck
Remarks delivered by Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp
Remarks delivered by Representative Dan Flynn and
Senator Bob Hall
Perspectives on the New Nursing and Health Sciences Building—Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith, Department of Health and Human Performance
Dr. Barbara Tucker, Department of Nursing
Dr. Larry Lemanski, Biological Institute for Regenerative Research
The memorial garden project—Vincent Phillips, Class of 2016
Our Alma Mater—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir and Choral
Nursing and Health Science Building Groundbreaking Ceremony
| Welcome Reception | Second floor of the Student Center | Coffee and continental breakfast |
| Our Century as Lions Celebration | Conference Rooms A&B |
Original Fanfare, “Leonidas”, created to celebrate our 100 years as Lions—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir Welcome and introductions—President Ray Keck Presentations and proclamations—Senator Bob Hall and Representative Dan Flynn Our Guest Speakers
Connecting with Century as Lions and looking forward to our next event—Vice President for Media Relations and Community Engagement, Noah Nelson The Texas A&M University-Commerce Fight Song—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir |
| Nursing & Health Sciences Building Groundbreaking | North patio of the Student Center | Connecting our past and our future—Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams
Looking forward to our next 100 years—President Ray Keck Remarks delivered by Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp Remarks delivered by Representative Dan Flynn and Perspectives on the New Nursing and Health Sciences Building—Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith, Department of Health and Human Performance Dr. Barbara Tucker, Department of Nursing Dr. Larry Lemanski, Biological Institute for Regenerative Research The memorial garden project—Vincent Phillips, Class of 2016 Our Alma Mater—Texas A&M University-Commerce Brass Choir and Choral Nursing and Health Science Building Groundbreaking Ceremony |
In case of rain, all events will take place in the Rayburn Student Center (RSC).
