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Central Connecticut State University has 175 reasons to celebrate this year, as a significant milestone approaches.
On June 22, Central will mark its 175th year as an institution of higher education. The university community celebrated the official start of the anniversary celebration during a kickoff meeting on Feb. 6 at which President Zulma R. Toro and members of her leadership team outlined highlights of the festivities set to unfold over the next year. Among them are an anniversary gala during Homecoming weekend, a community birthday party, and a birthday toast event to celebrate the university’s official birthday on June 22, among others.
“We have so much to celebrate, and I am so grateful to the people — past and present — who have made Central the premier state university in Connecticut,” says Central President Zulma R. Toro. “In recognizing Central’s 175th anniversary, we celebrate its history, growth, and achievements while looking toward the future.”
Nine committees dedicated to several anniversary projects will begin their work soon after dozens of faculty and staff signed up to serve on them during the kickoff. The committees’ work will incorporate research and feedback from the campus community, the City of New Britain, alumni, and others to produce an array of commemorative events, materials, and academic programs. Committee projects include an anniversary time capsule; the Central Stories project, a collection of oral, written, photographic, and other mementos to highlight the history of Central; a special-edition magazine; and more.
A web page dedicated to the 175th anniversary offers more information, interactive tools, downloadable logos, and, soon, a pop-up shop for anniversary merchandise. The site will be updated throughout the year as more events take shape. View the web page at www.ccsu.edu/175-anniversary/. The site also welcomes reader-submitted Central memories here.
“Central’s accomplishments have been driven by our commitments to our mission and the promise of public higher education as a means of social mobility and cultural and social development,” Toro added. “Those principles will guide us for what I hope will be another 175 years.”