TRADITION AND TRANSFORMATION REFLECTIONS ON GONZAGA UNIVERSITY’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Historic Year Remembered In these pages you will find many of the people and events that characterized the 2012-13 year, Gonzaga’s 125th as an exemplary Catholic, Jesuit, humanistic university — and the centennial for the School of Law. While these photographs capture the mood and significance of this moment in Gonzaga’s rich history, they represent much more. They reflect 125 years of tradition and transformation. They inspire. They serve as a reminder of Gonzaga’s fundamental mission; its commitment to academic, character and faith formation. Ultimately, these are the virtues
Viewing the anniversary year as a spring point for expansive academic and spiritual growth, longtime supporters Tom (’67) and Camilla Tilford admirably served as co-chairs of the 125th Anniversary celebration.
that will sustain the University for another 125 years.
This commemorative medallion was presented to each of the year’s keynote speakers, who, through their lives and work, reflect Gonzaga’s values of scholarly research, social justice and inspired transformation.
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU – MAY 12, 2012
Gonzaga welcomed and honored Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah, with a dinner. Here they are greeted by Gonzaga Chancellor Father Bernard Coughlin, S.J.
In a Spokane Arena filled to capacity, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu kicked off Gonzaga’s 125th Anniversary celebration with a stirring keynote address at the May 2012 undergraduate commencement. The Nobel Laureate urged graduates to not only dream, but also collaborate with God to make the world better. It was a fitting start to a year filled with inspirational moments and milestones.
“God says ‘dream, dream, dream of a world where poverty is no more. Dream of a world that is marked by equity where everyone, everyone has a decent, decent life.’ We can, we can have such a world. God says ‘please, please dream.’ ” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Presidential Speaker Series
THOMAS FRIEDMAN – SEPT. 4, 2012
“This country looks so much better from the bottom up. It’s still alive down there. And that’s why whenever you want to know why I’m an optimist, it’s because, thank God, even the politics in this country can’t kill the energy coming up from below.”
Thomas Friedman Three-time Pulitzer Prize winning author
Thomas Friedman emphasized the crucial responsibility education plays in helping America become more competitive globally.
MASSES KICK OFF ACADEMIC YEAR
Student Orientation Mass (above) and Mass of the Holy Spirit launched the academic year and gave the Gonzaga community the opportunity to ask for God’s wisdom and inspiration.
STUDENT PILGRIMAGE – SEPT. 15, 2012
On an 80-degree autumn day, 250 students walked an 11-mile spiritual journey to the historic Mission of the Sacred Heart in Cataldo, Idaho, for Pilgrimage 2012.
Law Centennial Speaker
SCOTT TUROW - SEPT. 20, 2012
“There remains strong faith in the courthouse, the institution of law in America and the people who work in it. I think the faith is not misplaced, and I hope over time it does not become one more legal fiction.” Scott Turow Attorney and best selling author of “Presumed Innocent”
HISTORIC FIRST DAY — SEPT. 17, 2012
This campus birthday celebration marked the day Gonzaga opened its doors in 1887. It began with a breakfast for 300 community and campus leaders (below), and ended with a barbecue for 4,000 students, faculty, staff and their families (left). Food, games and live music made for a festive celebration. A noon Mass celebrated Gonzaga’s calling as a Catholic, Jesuit university.
SIR KEN ROBINSON – OCT. 17, 2012
“What will keep Gonzaga alive is being sensitive to the changes happening around it while respecting the traditions that brought it to this place now. That, I think, requires a thoroughgoing review of the core culture that makes you what you are. Culture is an organic term, and in the end it always comes down to great leadership.”
Sir Ken Robinson Education futurist and innovator
In October, nearly 2,000 alumni and more than 3,500 family members of Gonzaga students converged on campus to celebrate Zagapalooza, the allclass reunion, and Fall Family Weekend, an annual community tradition. The weekend gave Zags a chance to live — or re-live — the Gonzaga Experience with family and friends, new and old.
ALL-OUT ALL-CLASS ALUMNI CELEBRATION
On Friday night, Oct. 19, the Spokane Convention Center was filled to capacity for a spirited evening of dancing, socializing and remembering.
FALL FAMILY WEEKEND – OCT. 19-21, 2012
GROTTO DEDICATION – OCT. 20, 2012
Alumni, students, families and campus community gathered to dedicate the new Grotto, a sacred space for reflection and prayer.
BOZARTH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION – DEC. 12, 2012
Bozarth Retreat Center was acquired by Gonzaga in 1963, and has served as home to student and staff retreats, weddings, receptions and spiritual exercises over the past 50 years. This Yuletide celebration turned back the clock 100 years.
GONZAGA BASKETBALL RANKED NO. 1
Gonzaga basketball reached new heights during the anniversary year. Gonzaga men’s basketball won a school-record 32 games, reaching No. 1 in the polls for the first time in history, and earning a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kelly Olynyk (above) earned first-team All-America and Academic All-America honors. The GU women maintained their winning ways, too, capturing their ninth consecutive West Coast Conference title and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.
JANUARY 24, 2013
In January, the year’s celebrations reached a new high. Zags everywhere united in spirit and gathered in person to celebrate all that makes Gonzaga so special. More than 8,000 Zags — from the McCarthey Athletic Center to New York to Tokyo — came together for National Gonzaga Day, while many more joined in the celebration through live video streaming. This started a new tradition and simultaneously provided a glimpse into the University’s future.
“This is just the beginning; Gonzaga’s transformation is underway. On behalf of our students and the entire Gonzaga community, thank you. Thank you for all that you have done for Gonzaga to bring it to this time in our history, and thank you for all you will do to continue supporting Gonzaga and its students. Together we are Gonzaga. Go Zags.” Thayne McCulloh President, Gonzaga University
President McCulloh spoke during a special halftime presentation that included “shout-outs” from around the country and a special “thank you” from the students.
Zags assembled at 31 alumni gatherings around the country – in addition to Tokyo and Calgary – to celebrate the Gonzaga Experience on National Gonzaga Day.
Presidential Speaker Series
JANE GOODALL – APRIL 9, 2013
“Pretty clear, isn’t it, that we are not the only beings on this planet with personalities, minds capable of thinking and emotions, happiness, sadness, fear, anger and compassion.” Jane Goodall World-renowned primatologist
IGNATIAN GALA – APRIL 11, 2013
The Sixth Annual Ignatian Gala recognized contributors from the Greater Gonzaga community.
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE CONFERENCE – APRIL 18-20, 2013
National and international speakers and scholars provided opportunities to understand and address fear and ignorance of the “other” as these conditions manifest in hatred, intolerance and inequality.
LAW CENTENNIAL GALA & REUNION – APRIL 20, 2013
Gonzaga welcomed more than 400 alumni, family and friends to celebrate Gonzaga at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane for an all-class reunion and the School of Law’s Centennial Gala.
DALE CHIHULY - APRIL 25, 2013
This internationally renowned artist, Dale Chihuly, who revolutionized the Studio Glass movement, discussed his creative process during his lecture at the Bing Crosby Theater. His work was featured at Gonzaga’s Jundt Art Museum through spring and summer 2013.
KISS OUR COG GOODBYE - MAY 8, 2013
Gonzaga said goodbye to the COG, which served the University since 1954, to make way for a new University Center. Not since College Hall was completed in 1898 has a new building offered so much promise to transform Gonzaga’s educational experience.
A new University Center, rising from the site of the former COG and its parking lot, will provide an environment where students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members can interact, collaborate, foster new connections throughout the world and learn in a manner never before possible at Gonzaga.
COMMENCEMENT – MAY 11-12, 2013
Gonzaga graduated its largest class of seniors in school history; leaders committed to serving others and perpetuating the common good.
THE NEXT 125 YEARS “We are a university called to live and learn and teach and explore not comfortably at the center of the culture, but at the frontiers – the cutting edge, the margins, places that require courage. What our world needs today is educated people who can and will transform the world. By working together we can, without question, meet the challenges this need presents.” Thayne McCulloh President, Gonzaga University Inaugural address, Oct, 22, 2009
In the next 125 years the world will increasingly be Gonzaga’s campus, expanding educational opportunities for students in more than 20 foreign countries, like Italy and Turkey, while enrolling more international students on its Spokane campus. This year alone GU ranked No. 1 nationally in providing Peace Corp volunteers, demonstraing the power of Zags around the globe.
125th Anniversary proudly sponsored by:
gonzaga.edu/125
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