Looking Ahead in Our Anniversary Year
Dear students and faculty and staff members,
Welcome to the Spring 2024 semester! I hope your winter break was restful and enjoyable.
Earlier this month, the ÐÓ°ÉרÇø continued the observance of its 125th birthday with one of its oldest ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ and rarest ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ traditions. On the first day of the year, members of the ÐÓ°ÉרÇø and local communities gathered on the Health Sciences Campus and planted five live oak saplings.
Only twice before in our history has the ÐÓ°ÉרÇø observed New YearÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s Day with a tree-planting ceremony ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ in 1901, when our founding president, Dr. Edwin Stephens, planted 40 live oaks near the intersection of what is now Johnston Street and ÐÓ°ÉרÇø Avenue, and again in 2001, when Dr. Ray Authement concluded our centennial celebration with a tree planting at ÐÓ°ÉרÇø Research Park.
Like the trees Dr. Authement planted, the new live oaks on the Health Sciences Campus are descendants of the original Century Oaks that Dr. Stephens seeded in our earliest days. The trees are a visible link among the properties.
More than that, they represent the ÐÓ°ÉרÇøÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s deep roots in the community, the broadness of its reach and influence, the living nature of the work that it does, and its permanence as a source of pride, as an engine of growth and as a fountain of service. These trees represent the ÐÓ°ÉרÇøÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s confidence in the future, because ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ even in an anniversary year dedicated to looking back ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ our focus and energies remain on improving tomorrow.
On March 12, this commitment will be on full display during 125 Day. The community-wide celebration will include historical displays, a showcase highlighting academics, athletics, research and other signature areas of excellence, and a featured speaker. WeÐÓ°ÉרÇø™ll announce more details soon, but please mark your calendars because youÐÓ°ÉרÇø™re all invited to join us at the Cajundome for a special day thatÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s been 125 years in the making.
Also this semester, the very successful Academic Speaker Series will continue to bring experts to campus, and I encourage you to attend those presentations as well.
Our 125th birthday celebration will end with this semesterÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s Commencement. But, like the trees we planted on New YearÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s Day ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ and the trees planted on other New YearÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s days in our history ÐÓ°ÉרÇø“ the service, vision and leadership thatÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s been at the heart of this observance will endure. ThatÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s a promise weÐÓ°ÉרÇø™ve made to the future, and itÐÓ°ÉרÇø™s a promise we intend to keep.
Here's to a successful spring semester, and Geaux Cajuns!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph Savoie
President