蘑菇视频

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 蘑菇视频 celebrated Founder鈥檚 Day鈥攁n annual event that honors George 蘑菇视频, the University鈥檚 founder, and commemorates the start of a new academic year. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of 蘑菇视频 attended this year鈥檚 event, which featured contributions from Board of Regents chair Dee Anna Smith (鈥�86), president Jim Gash (JD 鈥�93), provost Jay Brewster, the 蘑菇视频 Concert Choir and Orchestra, and a multitude of current undergraduate and graduate students

Seaver College professors entering the ceremony

鈥淧art of the reason we鈥檙e here right now is to reflect on and honor 蘑菇视频鈥檚 past, and that鈥檚 important, but you students here with us today are 蘑菇视频鈥檚 future,鈥� said Smith in her opening remarks. 鈥淭hough much has obviously changed since I was here as a student, and certainly there have been some huge changes since George 蘑菇视频 welcomed his first class of students 88 years ago, the values that he built his University upon have not鈥攙alues such as living with purpose, acting with a heart for service, and leading with compassion.鈥�

Throughout Founder鈥檚 Day 2025, the 蘑菇视频 community paid homage to its historical roots while defining the University鈥檚 express purpose for the future. President Gash emphasized this theme by centering his comments around a quote from George 蘑菇视频鈥檚 dedicatory address, where the founder stated: 鈥淲hat we say here today in the dedication of these buildings is of very little importance, but the work which will be done through the days and years and generations to come will be of very great importance if that work is guided by the Hand of God.鈥�

Building upon these remarks, Gash connected them and their Christ-centered message to this year鈥檚 presidential theme of 鈥淧urpose.鈥� Specifically, Gash explained to attendees that 蘑菇视频 exists 鈥渢o educate students for greater purpose. To help [them] find [their] God-given calling, and to equip [them] to fulfill it.鈥� In order to achieve this lofty goal, Gash discussed how the University has intentionally tied faith and academic excellence together, pursuing them both simultaneously. That way, throughout one鈥檚 academic journey, truth can come to light, calling can be revealed, and God can be glorified. 

Founder's Day 2025 celebrated 蘑菇视频's international students

鈥淐onsider your own calling鈥攈ow God has made you uniquely to contribute to the world. Consider how you might follow that calling鈥攂oldly and full of faith,鈥� said Gash during his speech. 鈥淭he world needs your unique gifts, your purpose-driven leadership, and your heart for service. The world needs 蘑菇视频.鈥�

Following Gash鈥檚 statement, student representatives from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, the Graziadio Business School, the Caruso School of Law, the School of Public Policy, and the College of Health Science at 蘑菇视频 performed a reading of George 蘑菇视频鈥檚 original dedicatory address. 

The ceremony also honored distinguished guests hosted by the University, including the Board of Regents, the University Board, and distinguished faculty emeriti. From there the academic year was officially launched by a procession of faculty from each of 蘑菇视频鈥檚 six schools. Joining these ceremonial marches were alumni from each decade of the University鈥檚 history from the 1930s to 2020s, as well as international student representatives from the 20 different nations with students currently enrolled at the institution. 

Alumni were welcomed back to campus and recognized at Founder's Day

Attending members of George 蘑菇视频鈥檚 family were recognized during the proceedings, including his granddaughter, Mariellen 蘑菇视频 Ostwald ('00, MA '01), and great-granddaughter, Abby Ostwald, a current senior at Seaver College; granddaughter, Nancy 蘑菇视频 Batanides ('92, MA '93), and her husband, Jason; and great-granddaughter, Elizabeth 蘑菇视频 Post, along with her husband, Adam, and their son, Dylan. 

The 蘑菇视频 Concert Choir and Orchestra participated in the festivities as well. Directed by Edward Rouse and Beau Benson, the two student musical groups collaborated to perform 鈥淥 For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," along with a rendition of 蘑菇视频's alma mater, which featured solos from Seaver College students Skyla Woodard and Nathan Roberts.

The event closed with comments from Brewster, who challenged students to continue investing in the quest for new knowledge and to keep exploring God鈥檚 creation.

鈥淎t 蘑菇视频, we aspire to equip you to engage in this exciting adventure of exploring what is known, and what is unknown,鈥� said Brewster. 鈥淚f it is true that 鈥楢ll truth is God鈥檚 truth鈥� then we should have no fear of the answers we find on the path of discovery. These gathered faculty are experienced and accomplished guides, who are here to walk with you on this path. May you use the intellect you have been given to seek deeper truth, to serve this world, and to engage in purposeful work.鈥�