Rockhurst celebrates 100th anniversary

Rockhurst University turns 100 years old this year. Throughout 2010, the Jesuit university will celebrate with birthday cakes, reunion opportunities and visits from special guests.

It also will be a year of reflection and looking toward the next 100 years, the Rev. Thomas Curran, Rockhurst president, said.

There are plenty of historical moments to commemorate, like the creation of the school charter for awarding degrees in 1910 or when land for a potential school was purchased in the middle of country roads, Curran said.

Other historical highlights include when students began to attend Rockhurst and when the university shared a campus with Rockhurst High School, he said. 

“I would rather focus on an anniversary such as this as a time for us to speak about our commitment to be timeless,” Curran said. “All of those things are on the Web site in terms of milestones, but I think it is more, ‘What have you done for me lately and where are we going?’”  

In addition to recently developing a five-year strategic plan and a 20-year master plan, the university has adopted a motto recognizing important components of the university, Curran said.

Rockhurst’s centennial year will be centered on the themes of “learning, leading, serving and celebrating.”

“Learning, leading and serving in the Jesuit tradition,” Curran said. “They are literally written on the walls of campus. This year we are celebrating it also.”

Jesuit education has been in existence for more than 450 years. Now, Rockhurst is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the United States.

“Jesuit education (has been) around the world for more than 400 years, we’ve been around for 100 years,” Curran said. “In some respects we are an adolescent.”

Honoring the Jesuit tradition of education, Rockhurst will begin centennial celebrations with a lecture in theology, delivered by the Rev. Greg Boyle.

Boyle is a Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program in Los Angeles.

“He is a great example of someone who is a teacher beyond the four walls of the classroom,” Curran said. “But, what is consistent with us, is it consists of finding God in all things, which starts with engaging the world.”

Rockhurst University became a co-educational school in 1969.

It was a decision that allowed Jan Stacy, Kansas City, Mo., to attend and eventually become the first woman to hold the role of student body president. She now serves a role on the college board of regents.

As a graduate who has remained in the city of her alma mater, she said it is a “thrill” to see the college reach this milestone year.   

“I think it is pretty impressive the university has survived 100 years,” Stacy said.

“I think it is important as a graduate to celebrate. I think it is a jewel to Kansas City and as a community we should be grateful we have a university of this quality. ... It is the only Jesuit university in Kansas City. ... A lot of graduates stay in Kansas City and are involved from business to civics to community. Rockhurst has been a plus for Kansas City.”

Later this year, Rockhurst will sell a historical book about the school and hold a weekend of celebration. Sept. 23-26 is designated as “Centennial Celebration Weekend” at Rockhurst.

Catherine Green, who has worked as a philosophy professor for 13 years at the university, said all celebrations will serve as “a nice way of reflecting and reasserting” Rockhurst’s role in the community.

“When you put (history) all in order you see it in a different light,” she said. “It makes you see successes and also see gaps. I think this is a great opportunity and we are using it.”

Serving on the student centennial committee, junior Annie Hart has worked with current students on ways to provide celebration opportunities for students.

Plans include a birthday cake decorating contest and a number of activities that will tie in centennial themes with favorite student activities, she said.

As a student who followed other family members to Rockhurst and encouraged her younger sister to attend the school, it is “meaningful” to be a student at the school as it turns 100, Hart said.

“I think it is a school so rich in tradition,” Hart said. “Faculty, staff and teachers are willing to help and it becomes like a family. I think people want to feel a part of that family. We’re really excited to be a part of such a big step.”

FAST FACTS

A centennial reception is from 6 to 7 p.m. today, Feb. 3, in Massman Hall on the Rockhurst University campus, 1100 Rockhurst Road. The Rev. Greg Boyle will share stories from his work as founder of Homeboy Industries, as he delivers the William Rossner Visiting Scholar Lecture in Theology at 7:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center. To register for the free event, call 501-4375.

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