Zachary Worstell
zdw001@marietta.edu
February 14th is a special day for many. Why might that be? It is Marietta College’s 189th birthday of course. And this February, we can show our love for Marietta College in various ways including, the Founder’s Day celebration, the Founders Formal, and the Day of Giving.
While Marietta College was founded on February 14th, 1835, the 2024 Founder’s Day celebration will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 15th in the Alma McDonough Auditorium. Here, birthday cake, coffee, and hors d’oeuvres will be served while awards will be presented towards faculty members. The celebration kicks off with a speech from interim President Margaret L. Drugovich and will be followed by a presentation on the College’s rich history from Linda Showalter. This extravaganza celebrates what it means to be a Pioneer.
Another Founder’s Day tradition is the Founders Formal. The Student Government Association (SGA) presents this formal dance with the theme of “Tangled in the Memories.” This formal is open to all students and mimics that of a high school dance such as homecoming or prom. The formal is at 8:00p.m. on Saturday February 17th.
The Annual Founders Formal is free and open to all students plus one guest. A catered buffet, soft drinks, and alcohol for those of legal age are provided. Furthermore, door prizes as well as money for an organization’s charity will be given out throughout the night.
The competition between student organizations is a key tradition of the Founders Formal. Clubs, teams, and other groups will compete for prizes for their chosen philanthropy. The first-place prize is $600, the second-place prize is $400, and the third-place prize is $200. Additionally, $200 will be awarded to a participating student organization and to a participating sports team. Every attendee will write on a ticket their preferred organization and the winners will be determined by the greatest number of tickets.
If you are not in a student organization, do not worry. You are still free to invite a friend and enjoy the music, food, drinks, photo booth, and prizes. If you have yet to register your student organization visit the SGA Instagram @mcsga or check your Marietta College email for a form.
The last tradition can be celebrated by Pioneers all across the globe. On February 14th the annual Day of Giving occurs. The Day of Giving is an online fundraising event where everybody is encouraged to support Marietta College and to answer the question “What makes Marietta College special to you?”
You can help celebrate by donating a gift of any amount to an area of your choosing by indicating which team or program you desire to receive the gift. Or you can donate to the Marietta College Fund and let the College address the areas of greatest need. Furthermore, you can help your other Pioneers by spreading the word using the hashtag #Luv4MC.
For more information on the Day of Giving head to www.marietta.edu/alumni/day-of-giving.
