The weekend of October 10-12, 2008 will be remembered as one of the golden moments in Graceland University history. We inaugurated our seventeenth president, Dr. John Sellars, with color and pageantry, dignitaries from around the nation, and the sharing of a depth of diverse academic thought and remembrance. From the stellar presentations Friday morning by members of our outstanding faculty, opening 
their hearts to describe their passion for teaching, for service, for 
life, to the luminous closing remarks of Helen Bruch Pearson Smith at Sunday's Homecoming worship service, it was indeed a weekend of "Great Moments - Memories and Destinations." We did ourselves proud. Read a note about the Worship Service.
Dr. Sellars is pictured here while he delivered his ianugural speech, "Our Time in History." Professor Bob Mesle is pictured at right. He was a presenter at the faculty Academic Symposium, joined by William Juhnke, Sherri Kirkpatrick, Michael Casey and Julia Franklin. Barbara Hiles Mesle served as moderator. To view a photo gallery of the faculty Academic Symposium click here. To read a story about the faculty presentations click on Academic Symposium.
During the days and weeks and months to come each of us will recall our favorite moments from this historic weekend. There were meetings in front of the Swarm Inn between classmates who had not seen each other in 10, 25 or 50 years. Tears sometimes flowed forth with memories as hands were clasped and great remembrances from the past crystallized in the minds of old friends. Take a look here at a gallery of alumni images.
Our new president, John Sellars, swelled with pride during a whirlwind, three-day, event-packed schedule that would challenge any one. He was literally everywhere during the weekend, making us all feel welcome, at home on "the Hill." By Saturday night at the 50-year, honor class reunion dinner President Sellars was hoarse from so many speaking engagements, but he charmed and informed this distinguished audience, the way he did gatherings of alumni and friends all weekend. His bright vision of Graceland's future has already strengthened our resolve to move confidently through challenging times in higher education.
Speaking of the 50-year Honor Class reunion, you had to be there to know what a great evening that was. The class of 1958 is special in anyone's estimation. Read much more about their dinner Saturday night at 50-year reunion, and view a gallery of photos from the evening at "Try to Remember." You can also read about Dick Resch, from the Class of 1958, who attended the honor class dinner and spoke briefly with his old friends. It is Dick's capstone 
gift that has driven forward the "extreme makeover" of our science building. That's Dick, at left in the white shirt, enjoying lunch on the lawn with his wife Sharon and friends. To take a look as Dick, Sharon, their good friends Dan and Sharon Kelley, and Dick's uncle Harrison Hatch, toured Resch Hall in its transformation stage click here. You can also read much more about science hall plans at Resch Hall.
A host of distinguished speakers brought greetings to our new president during a regal inauguration ceremony which was webcast live to those gathered at our Independence, Missouri campus and to those around the world who could not be in Lamoni. To view a photo gallery of the inauguration click here.
Following the inauguration, a gala reception was held in The Helene Center for the Visual Arts. Hundreds of guests were greeted by President Sellars and First Lady Bette Sellars, whose lovely oil paintings of flowers, portraits, ships, old houses and more hung in the
adjoining Constance Gallery. To view a photo gallery of the reception click here. That is Bette, by the way, at right, posing with her art work in the background, alongside the gallery's namesake, Byron Constance.
The 9th Annual Alumni Emeriti and & Awards Banquet was held Friday evening. More than 300 Graceland faithful attended. For details of the evening's events and to find out who were awarded the GU Alumni Association's highest honors of the year, click here.
A spirited group of alumni gathered Saturday morning for the Annual Alumni Forum. There were thoughtful speeches by the new president and Board Chair Ken McClain, a surprise award given to a very special guy and a gathering of the Graceland Pioneers! To find out who they are, and read details of what went on click here. To view a galley of the event click here.
On Saturday afternoon a 2,000-plus, standing-room-only crowd of fans sat on the edge of their seats as their Yellowjacket football team brought home a nail-biting victory on our beautiful Huntsman Field. Pictured at left is cheerleader Stephanie Remmenga blasting t-shirts toward the crowd. The shirts depict our new "Sting." Stephanie had a hard time shooting into a gusty wind that whipped up spirit at the game, and all weekend long. Both our men's and women's soccer teams beat Culver-Stockton.
Halftime activities included crowning of the King and Queen, Jennifer Jackson and Will Morris. There were also inductions to the Graceland athletics Hall of Fame and Wall of Fame. Three alumni, William Floyd Ayers, Class of '58 (all-around standout athlete), Stan Rupe, Class of '78 (football and baseball star) and Kristy Feldman, Class of '02 (All-American track star) were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 1962 Track and Field team, coached by L.D. Weldon and Jerry Hampton, were inducted into the Yellowjacket Wall of Fame. View photos during the award ceremony, and see photos of our Homecoming King and Queen, and their court, at athletic awards.
There were sold-out houses to see the delightful homecoming musical, "Guys and Dolls," a masterful production directed by theatre professor Rebecca Foster, starring our students and community members. Alumni who had not been back to campus for years, marveled at the quality of the acting, singing, 
choreography, set design, sound, lighting........the total production. Congratulations to all those who put in hundreds of hours in planning and rehearsal. Pictured at right, one of the "guys" and one of the "dolls." For a full photo gallery of the production click here. There have actually been three productions of "Guys and Dolls" at Graceland over the years and before Saturday night's performance cast members from all three productions held a reunion in the Shaw Center Gallery. It was a heartwarming event as alumni who had played certain roles posed for photos with current cast members. There were a lot of memories shared before the curtain was raised. Check out the "Guys and Dolls" cast reunion photo gallery.
A fun gathering of members of the Social Clubs of years gone by was held on Saturday morning. Spartans, Gimpers, OOHs, K Alphas, K Zetas, FNPs, ETAs, KOGs and others got together for laughs and memories to share. Click here for a photo gallery.
Friday night in the Eugene E. and Julia Travis Closson Athletic Center, the annual Pep Rally and student "Airband" competition (won this year by Agape & Paloma Houses) took place. You need to sit back and let the unleashed energy blow your hair back on your head when you watch the Airband competitors do their thing. Click here for pep rally photos and here for Airband photos.
Golfers and walkers/runners got into action on a crisp, sunny Saturday morning. For galleries see golf and walk/run. There are also galleries of photos taken at alumni Registration and of the youngsters who had a great time at the Busy Bees Corner, hosted during the Science and Math Open House.
Very special thanks must be given to the two indefatigable co-chairs of the presidential inaugural committee. Jodi Seymour, pictured on the right, below, Executive Assistant to the President, and Nancy 
Wallace, Alumni Programs Director, led a dedicated committee through many months of planning and hard work. The events of inauguration day took place with a seemingly effortless rhythm. It was so because Jodi and Nancy, and their fellow committee members, gave of themselves with time and love and tenacity. They never stopped until the hundreds of details were dispatched and the events we all enjoyed were presented in a timeless mosaic we will never forget. The same goes for the dozens of Homecoming events and activities that were enjoyed throughout the weekend. Nancy always puts on a great Homecoming. This year, with twice the work as usual on her plate, she surpassed previous efforts and put on the best Homecoming ever. Accolades have come in from all directions, offering high praise and thanks for a wonderful weekend.
What do Nancy and Jodi have to say now, after the dust has settled, the tents have been taken down and campus has returned to normal? Jodi said, "We are just proud of how it all came together, proud of how all the details fell into place to creat a memorable inauguration." And Nancy added, "So many people helped out. It truly took a 'village' to create the best Homecoming ever."
To Jodi and Nancy, a truly heart-felt thanks from President Sellars, students, faculty and staff, and all alumni and friends of the university who were the recipients of your heroic efforts.
