Inaugural opens centennial celebration

Tabor College, founded in 1908, will kick off its centennial celebration beginning with the official inauguration of its 13th president, Jules Glanzer, during a full weekend of activities, May 9 through 11, at the college.

The following is a list of scheduled events for the weekend and a look at other centennial events throughout the celebration, which will continue through fall 2009.

  • Presidential Inauguration, 7 p.m., Friday, May 9, TC Gymna?sium.

    The keynote speaker will be Leonard Sweet. Admission is free.

    ?The inauguration of a college president is a landmark event on any campus, but it?s especially true for Tabor College as it celebrates its centennial,? said Judy Harder, associate professor of communications and drama.

    ?This is an opportunity for everyone connected to Tabor to join together in gratitude for what God has done through the college in the past 100 years and to look ahead with hope and expectation to what God will do through Tabor in the future, beginning with the inauguration of our new president.?

  • Tabor College Centennial History Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Chapel Auditorium. ?

    A Century of Transforma?tion: 1908-2008,? a history of Tabor College created by the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, will make its public debut at this year?s CMBS annual banquet.

    The book?s authors, Peggy Goert?zen, Richard Kyle, Lynn Jost and David Peters, will share highlights from the book. Doug Miller, editor, and Don Isaac, chair of the steering committee, also will speak.

    ?We?re eager to celebrate 100 years of Tabor and the men and women whose dedicated service helped make it possible,? said Goertzen, CMBS director.

    ?A Century of Transforma?tion includes 250 pages of stories and photographs along with a CD/DVD filled with Bluejay yearbooks for the entire century, musical performances, and recordings of Chapel Hour radio program.

    The book is now being sold at the pre-publication price of $35. After May 10, the price of the book will be $45.

    Tickets to the dinner are $15 per person, but a combination price of $50 will include the dinner and book.

    Send payments for dinner tickets and books to: CMBS, Tabor College, 400 S. Jefferson, Hillsboro, KS. 67063 or call 620-947-3121 ext.1211/1212.

  • Communitywide Reception for Jules and Peg Glanzer, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11, Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

    The public is invited to greet the new president and his wife, at this come-and-go event.

  • Spring Oratorio Concert, 7 p.m., Sunday, May 11, Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

    The featured work is Beethoven?s Choral Fantasy, a work for orchestra, piano solo, and chorus, featuring Sheila Schmitt, associate professor of piano and piano pedagogy, as piano soloist.

    Also on the concert are three choruses from Haydn?s famous oratorio, ?The Creation,? and the ?Laudate Dominum? from Mozart?s Solemn Vespers, which features soprano soloist Holly Swartzendruber, assistant professor of vocal music.

    The chorus work will be handled by the combined Tabor College Concert Choir and the Tabor College Community Chorale, accompanied by orchestra. The concert is free to the public.

    ?Combining the spring oratorio with the inauguration weekend as well as the combining of the Concert Choir and Commun?ity Chorale heightens the usual energy of this concert,? said Brad Vogel, oratorio director and associate professor of choral music.

    ?With the beautiful quality of the compositions performed, this will be a high and fitting end to the inaugural activities.?

  • U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Tabor College Centennial Celebration, Friday, July 25, Chapel Auditorium.

    Tabor College and the Mennonite Brethren churches of Hillsboro will host the 2008 U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches July 25-27.

    On Friday evening, July 25, the public is invited to celebrate the college?s centennial. A multi-media musical history of the school will highlight the evening.

    Dan Southerland, founder and director of Church Transitions Inc., will be the conference key-note speaker.

    Cake and ice cream will be served on the Tabor mall celebrating the college?s 100th birthday.

  • Centennial Homecoming Celebration, Oct. 2-5, Hillsboro and Wichita.

    Planners are preparing to cheer 100 years of Tabor Bluejays history and tradition during the college?s biggest-ever homecoming celebration.

    Highlights from a full calendar of events include: the drama department musical, ?Fiddler on the Roof,? Oct. 2-4; Home?coming Golf Classic, Friday, Oct. 4, Reflection Ridge Golf Course, Wichita; Centennial Festival Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, at the Broadview Hotel, Wichita; dedication of the new Centennial Plaza sculpture ?Called to Serve,? Saturday morning, Oct. 5; and, the homecoming football game with Friends University, 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5.

Other centennial events include: A Presidential Centennial Tour to give the new college president an opportunity to meet alumni around the nation; a centennial oratorio concert that will debut a commissioned orchestral piece by Tabor College alumnus Larry Warkentin; and a collection of devotionals titled, ?A Tradition of Transformation,? authored by alumni, current and former faculty and others, to be released in 2009.

For more information about the Tabor College Centennial celebration, log on to www.tabor.edu/about-tabor/centennial.

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