Read the Centennial Celebration Brochure

Centennial Celebrations

Photography: © Matthew Tennison

Messiah College is pleased to offer a year-long calendar of events designed to commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2009-2010. Below is the list of official Centennial events—i.e., events that integrate the Centennial theme and are being planned in coordination with the Centennial Committee. As additional Centennial event details are finalized, they will appear on this calendar, so be sure to visit it frequently in the coming year.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Messiah College's 100 years of "shared faith, bold vision, and enduring promise!"

Planning to visit campus to attend a Centennial event? Check out our helpful Visitor's Guide.

2009

2010

August 2009

August 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Centennial Community Day and Employee Picnic

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September 2009

September 11—October 18
ORISONS: Enduring Promise art exhibit featuring the work of alumni, faculty, and student artists; Aughinbaugh Art Gallery.
This event is open to the public.
September 14, 7 p.m.
Centennial Keynote Lecture: Common Reading Convocation with Tracy Kidder, author of Mountains Beyond Mountains; Brubaker Auditorium.

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Hear a podcast of Tracey Kidder

October 2009

October 8-10, 8 p.m., October 11, 3 p.m., October 15-16, 8 p.m.
Fertile Ground: Stories from Messiah's First 100 Years, Miller Auditorium.
This event is open to the public. Seating is by ticket only.

View images from
"Fertile Ground"
October 15
Centennial Legacy Dinner; Brubaker Auditorium.
This event is by invitation only.

Centennial Homecoming Weekend

October 16, 11:30 a.m.
A Legacy of Leadership: Honoring the Presidents of Messiah College's First Century
The College Board of Trustees will dedicate a new park to honor the service of presidents from Messiah's first 100 years.
This event is open to the public. View event program (PDF)

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October 16, 7 p.m.
An Evening of Comedy with Jeff Allen and Timmy Morgan `04; Brubaker Auditorium.
This event is open to the public. Seating is by ticket only.

View video clips

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October 17: Centennial Homecoming

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Read about the citation presented by State Representative Sheryl Delozier.

Read about the Centennial time capsule.
October 26—November 24
ORISONS: Shared Faith I art exhibit featuring the work of alumni, faculty, and student artists; Aughinbaugh Art Gallery.
This event is open to the public.

November 2009

November 21 at 8 p.m. and November 22 at 3 p.m.
The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn featuring the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stuart Malina, with the Susquehanna Chorale, Wheatland Chorale, and the Messiah College Concert Choir; The Forum in Harrisburg.
Tickets available through the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

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November 22, 4:30—9 p.m.
Celebration at Upland: Honoring the Joint Heritage of Messiah and Upland Colleges; Upland, California.
This event is by invitation only.

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December 2009

December 4—January 28, 2010
ORISONS: Shared Faith II art exhibit featuring the work of alumni, faculty, and student artists; Aughinbaugh Art Gallery.
This event is open to the public.

January 2010

January 28, 8:30 a.m.—3 p.m.
Symposium for Christian Leaders
The Next Generation: Understanding its faith practices and impact upon faith communities; Messiah College.
This event is open to the public.

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February 2010

February 6—March 13
ORISONS: Bold Vision art exhibit featuring the work of renowned sculptor and Messiah alum Shelly Bradbury `95
February 12, 4 p.m., Artist's Talk and Reception; Aughinbaugh Art Gallery.
Both the exhibit and reception are open to the public.
February 25, 8 p.m.
Centennial Keynote Lecture: Humanities Symposium featuring Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Research at Harvard University; Brubaker Auditorium
This event is open to the public. Seating is by ticket only.

Watch the lecture
(Windows Media Video)

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March 2010

March 31, 4 p.m.
Book-signing with Paul Nisly, author of "Shared Faith, Bold Vision, Enduring Promise: The Maturing Years of Messiah College."

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April 2010

April 7, 7 p.m.
Philip Yancey lecture; Brubaker Auditorium
This event is open to the public. Seating is by ticket only.

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May 2010

May 1, 8 p.m.
The Centennial Ball; Hitchcock Arena
This is a student-only event.

View slide show of event setup

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Watch video
May 2, 4 p.m.
Centennial President’s Concert,featuring the Messiah College Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra; Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill
This event is open to the public.
May 12
Centennial Gala announcing The Centennial Campaign celebrating worship and performing arts at Messiah College; Brubaker Auditorium
This event is by invitation only.

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May 15
Centennial Commencement with Dr. Phil Thuma `70, director of the Malaria Institute in Macha, Zambia, and faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health; Shoemaker Field.