Bicentennial Bash at SUNY Potsdam: College Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Founding

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SUNY Potsdam will mark the 200th anniversary of its founding on Friday, March 25.

• The St. Lawrence Academy, seen here circa 1850, was founded on March 25, 1816, and would later become The State University of New York at Potsdam (Source: College Archives).
• Satterlee Hall (then known as Raymond Hall) as it appeared during construction in the 1950s, as the new SUNY Potsdam campus was being built on Pierrepont Avenue (Source: College Archives).

POTSDAM, NY (03/11/2016)(readMedia)-- The State University of New York at Potsdam is approaching a big milestone -- the 200th anniversary of the College's founding. SUNY Potsdam will mark the occasion with a bicentennial bash for the ages, on Friday, March 25.

On March 25, 1816, an otherwise unremarkable Monday, the New York State Board of Regents signed the document that established the St. Lawrence Academy in Potsdam, N.Y. Two centuries later, the institution has traced a path through every system of higher education in New York State -- first joining the ranks of the Normal Schools and then the State Teachers Colleges, before finally joining the State University of New York upon its founding in 1948. As such, SUNY Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges, and the oldest institution within SUNY.

SUNY Potsdam will honor its bicentennial with a Charter Day Birthday Bash on Friday, March 25, 2016, at 1 p.m. in the Barrington Student Union. All are welcome for this free celebration!

Members of the campus community are encouraged to show Potsdam Pride by wearing SUNY Potsdam gear on March 25. The person wearing the best outfit will win a bundle of bicentennial goodies from the College Store.

The party will display a live social media feed showcasing bicentennial best wishes from alumni around the world. Can't make it in person? Share your bicentennial best wishes on social media using the hashtag #sunypotsdam200, to have your birthday message shown live at the party! There will be prizes for the best posts, from far or near.

There will be live music by the Caramelo Trio, featuring Dr. Oscar Sarmiento, professor of modern languages. Guests can get in on the fun and get to know College history through a series of photo booths with historic campus images and props. There will also be DIY stations, to make your own bicentennial felt pennant and commemorative buttons.

Student groups will set up tables in the Barrington Student Union lobby, displaying information about the history of their clubs and organizations. There will also be historic photo banners on display, with images from the past two centuries. Organizers have created a special exhibit to showcase the stories behind the namesakes for every campus building. In addition, there will be a timeline display circling the celebration, with milestones from each decade specially marked by student volunteers.

SUNY Potsdam officials will also unveil a newly created historic replica of the St. Lawrence Academy charter at the party. The Potsdam Public Museum and the SUNY Potsdam College Archives and Special Collections recently partnered to have the original charter (a document too delicate for display) specially restored by a historic preservation firm, as well as creating exact reconstructions that can be viewed and enjoyed by the public.

No birthday party would be complete without dessert! PACES Dining Services is creating a large commemorative 3D sculpted cake in the shape of Satterlee Hall, the College's landmark clocktower building. In addition, Rebecca Weld, otherwise known as the Cookie Architect, has been commissioned to create special cookies celebrating the unique architecture of the College throughout the years. There will also be a sweets station with cupcakes and candy bars in College colors.

The Charter Day Bicentennial Bash will culminate in song, as everyone joins their voices to sing "Happy Birthday" and the College's "Alma Mater." Participants will also be invited to pop confetti canons to ring in SUNY Potsdam's 200th year!

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's bicentennial celebration and to learn more about College history, visit www.potsdam.edu/200.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges-and the oldest institution within SUNY. As the College marks its bicentennial in 2016, SUNY Potsdam will celebrate a 200-year legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and leadership in the arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community is nearing the completion of Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which has already raised $32 million for scholarships and programs.

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