Viterbo University to Celebrate Its 125th Anniversary Throughout the Year; Kick Off Event Aug. 19

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Aug. 12, 2014

Contact Pat Kerrigan at 608-796-3041 or pgkerrigan@viterbo.edu

VITERBO UNIVERSITY TO CELEBRATE ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY WITH EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; KICK OFF EVENT AUG. 19

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University will celebrate its 125th anniversary with special events throughout the 2014–15 academic year, including a major service project effort for students and employees.

The year will officially begin Tuesday, Aug. 19 when faculty and staff return for an opening of school university forum, the debut of the 125th anniversary video, and mayoral proclamation, followed at approximately 11:15 a.m. with a blessing ceremony and tours of the newly renovated San Damiano Chapel, and an employee picnic. Local artist Michael Martino will create a large chalk drawing of Viterbo’s 125th anniversary logo on the sidewalk in front of Murphy Center, weather permitting. A 125th anniversary themed-employee dinner will be held later that evening.

In a major initiative in celebration of the 125th anniversary, service project hours performed by students, employees, and alumni will be logged with the goal of getting as close to 125,000 hours as possible.

Viterbo has created a special website at www.viterbo.edu/125 that features downloadable photos and university logos, a complete schedule of events, a Viterbo historical timeline, a trivia quiz, and memories posted by alumni and others.

Other highlights from the year-long celebration:

  • “Common Good, Uncommon Excellence” presentation by Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre. Woo was formerly the dean of the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business, which is frequently cited as the nation’s leading school in ethics education and research. She was named one of the 500 Most Powerful Women on the Planet by Forbes magazine.
  • “Steering Your Ship Through Rough Waters: Lessons on Leadership from Captain Phillips” presentation by Captain Richard Phillips, Somali pirate hostage and subject of the movie Captain Phillips staring Tom Hanks at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.
  • The 100th Anniversary of St. Wenceslaus Parish Celebration with an open house at 5 p.m., Mass at 6 p.m., and a reception at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Viterbo Day of Service Monday, Jan. 19.
  • “A Place for Us–A Gala Celebration of the Arts at Viterbo,” a scholarship benefit gala to celebrate Viterbo’s commitment to the visual and performing arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21.

Viterbo University was founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Through the course of its history, Viterbo has graduated more than 20,000 students and currently has over 500 permanent employees and adjuncts.

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