In 1866, a community came together to lay the groundwork for what is now Lebanon Valley College. This year we have the opportunity to reflect on the College’s history while celebrating that which is yet to come. Larry Bowman ’70 and Bob Johns ’75, co-chairs of the 150th Anniversary Committee, have worked with a dedicated group and their sub-committees to organize an appropriate yearlong celebration.
These sub-committees include numerous alumni and friends of the College and represent four areas: Academic Programs (Dr. Mary Pettice), Marketing/Communications (Kate Ruhl Gerdes ’05 and Tom Hanrahan), Ongoing Events (Jennifer Evans), and Signature Events (Rev. Dr. Paul Fullmer).
The anniversary year kicks off with a Founders Day Celebration on Tuesday, 
Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. in Blair Music Center. The event will feature the debut of a commissioned music piece, Sesquicentennial Celebration: For the 150th Anniversary Celebration by Dr. Justin Morrell, assistant professor of music. Students Michael Mango-Puglisi ’17, Rebecca Sausser ’16, and Jeanette Tropp ’17 will present historical research during the event.
The celebration continues Friday, Apr. 15 when Dr. Allen Guelzo, an internationally recognized expert on the Civil War, discusses “Lincoln’s Declaration of Economic Independence.” Dr. Guelzo, Henry R. Luce III Professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg College, presents his keynote at 8 p.m. in Arnold Sports Center.
Several faculty members and numerous students have been involved in planning this historic milestone as well. Drs. Rebecca McCoy, Jeff Ritchie, and Grant Taylor taught classes in which their student’s work will result in historic displays throughout campus, a mobile application, and the LVC Reimagined exhibit that debuts in the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery later this spring. Additional plans are underway for events that will enable us as a College community—students, alumni, and the broader Annville/Lebanon communities—to celebrate.
An anniversary website—www.lvc.edu/150—was created to share information regarding the College’s proud history and the 150th anniversary celebration. Additional events and details will be added throughout the year. Many of the events are made possible through the generosity of companies who provided support for the displays and activities. These companies include Arthur Funk & Sons Inc., AT&T, Candoris Technology, Fulton Bank, Graystone Consulting, Lebanon Building Supply, Lebanon Federal Credit Union, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, and Metz Culinary Management. They are acknowledged on the anniversary pages and will be acknowledged at the respective events they sponsored. The College is thankful for their support.