To celebrate the grand finale of its year-long Centennial, ACU is throwing a huge birthday bash and inviting everyone we know … alumni from all over the world, members of the Abilene community, current and prospective students, faculty, staff, friends and family.
Whether this is your only Centennial event or one of many, join us on campus for a day of exciting festivities for the entire family, plus a musical comedy theatre production created specially for the Centennial Celebration. We only turn 100 once so this will be a bash to remember … with cake and presents, plus a few surprises and special events!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, Sept. 8
Abilene 1906
8 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St., downtown Abilene
This musical comedy, created by Dr. Jack Boyd ('55) and Dr. Ed George ('61), will tell the story of Abilene when ACU was about to become a reality in Childers Classical Institute. As Abilene celebrates its 125th birthday this year, you’ll see how the two entities have been community partners since the beginning.
Tickets are $15, $10 and $5. All available tickets will now be sold at the Paramount Box Office prior to each performance. See the Abilene 1906 Web page for times.
Saturday, Sept. 9
Dedication of Jacob’s Dream Sculpture
1 p.m., Southeast lawn of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building
Join the ACU community in a dedication ceremony for Jacob's Dream, the breathtaking 32-foot-tall sculpture masterfully created by Jack Maxwell, associate professor and chair of the Department of Art and Design, to commemorate a $26.5 million gift from the Grace L. Woodward Memorial Endowment Trust. This special event is one you won’t want to miss.
Campus Open House
1 p.m., ACU Campus
The campus is open to everyone, especially the Abilene community, to see the view from the inside. While on campus, visitors can explore various buildings, take the Centennial Walking Tour, enjoy Starbucks coffee in the new Learning Commons in Brown Library, see film clips of ACU history in the Centennial Theatre, or just hang out in the beautiful mall area.
Book Signing for The ACU Century
2 p.m., Hall of Servants, Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building
Meet some of your favorite ACU personalities and university icons, including presidents and other administrators, faculty and staff, Wildcat and Olympic sports heroes, and notable alumni from all walks of life – people who made significant contributions to ACU’s first 100 years. Get their autographs on pages about their feats and accomplishments in The ACU Century, an award-winning collectible full-color coffee table book commemorating Abilene Christian’s milestone celebration. Books will be for sale at the event.
See the signers planning to attend so far.
WACU Building Reception
3 p.m., Jennings House, WACU Museum
Meet the families of the supporters and champions for whom many of the buildings on the ACU campus are named, such as McGlothlin, Moody, Morris, Edwards, Sikes, Walling, Williams and others will be honored during a reception hosted by the Women for Abilene Christian University.
Outdoor Birthday Carnival
4 to 6:30 p.m., Campus Mall Area
Adults and children of all ages will enjoy the Birthday Carnival in the mall area of campus. Play games to win small prizes, bounce around on giant inflatables, grab a hotdog and a funnel cake, and catch up with friends to celebrate this landmark occasion.
Centennial Birthday Cake Ceremony
4:30 p.m., GATA Fountain
No birthday would be complete without cake! Join ACU president Dr. Royce Money and Willie the Wildcat as they blow out the candles on a cake as big as the GATA Fountain and sing Happy Birthday to our alma mater. Then enjoy a tasty treat of your own in celebration of this milestone birthday.
Caedmon's Call Concert
7:30 p.m., Elmer Gray Stadium
To help wrap up the day, the Christian rock and folk band Caedmon’s Call will perform in concert. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the stars. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. No refunds within 72 hours of the event.
General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, and $5 for children 10 and under. Tickets may be purchased at the Elmer Gray box office, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Abilene 1906
8 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St., downtown Abilene
Another showing of the musical comedy, created by Jack Boyd and Ed George. All available tickets will now be sold at the Paramount Box Office prior to each performance.
Grand Finale Fireworks
9:10 p.m., Elmer Gray Stadium
Wrap up the night and ACU’s first century with a bang! Enjoy this special fireworks presentation to celebrate the end of one century and the beginning of another.
Abilene 1906
2 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St., downtown Abilene
Final performance of the musical comedy specially written for ACU’s Centennial celebration. All available tickets will now be sold at the Paramount Box Office prior to each performance.
Second Century Covocation
11 a.m., Moody Coliseum
We'll mark the beginning of ACU's second century with a special academic convocation. Dr. Paul Corts, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, will be the guest speaker.
Academic Symposium
2 p.m., Hart Auditorium, Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building
The topic will be "Church-Related Higher Education in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities," led by guest scholar Dr. Mark Schwehn, project director for the Lilly Fellows Program and professor of humanities at Christ College, Valparaiso University.