Latest Legends & Traditions
Aug
19
Orientation Day of Service Reflects the Oglethorpe Difference
Ahh, college orientation…a time when new students prepare for the upcoming school year with a week-long crash course of the institution itself. Like most colleges, orientation week for OU freshmen includes attending panel discussions on academic and student life, welcome parties, and an activities fair with representatives from student organizations vying for their interest.
The Oglethorpe difference begins in the early morning of day three—our Orientation Day of Service. Unlike most freshmen across the country, OU freshmen will rise early Monday morning, meet for breakfast, and head out to Atlanta’s Historic Grant Park Conservancy to assist the the 127-year-old park in sprucing up and preparing for its annual Summer Shade Festival. There, rain or shine, 300 new Petrels will work alongside upperclassmen and other volunteers to get the city’s oldest park in festival shape .
Oglethorpe’s Day of Service, an annual event, serves not only as a way for new students to get acquainted with one another, but is a testimony to OU’s commitment to community service, something that has become signature to the Oglethorpe experience.
For a record number of freshmen and new students, that experience starts tomorrow - WELCOME!
OU Freshmen at a past Orientation Day of Service.
Aug
02
Tag – You’re It! Show Your Petrel Pride on Your Ride!
Posted by: | CommentsWhenever I mention that I attend Oglethorpe University, people often comment on the exquisite architecture and picturesque campus. I’m always proud to say that I do indeed live, work, and study at a castle. It reminds many people of Hogwarts School from the beloved Harry Potter series, and some students have even affectionately deemed it “Oglewarts.”
We may be a private liberal arts school instead of a wizarding school, but to me, Oglethorpe possesses a magic of its own. The presence of community spirit is more prominent here than in any community I’ve ever considered myself to be a part of. For me, it’s been an interactive and nurturing environment that has helped me to grow in both my knowledge of my studies and my relational experiences with the wonderful people I’ve encountered here.
One day driving around campus, I noticed a car with an OU license plate and of course I immediately coveted it. It was the opportune time for me to get one because I had just gotten a new car and had a temporary tag. I finally got my OU tag in the mail a few weeks ago and it was exciting! My love for this school makes me bleed black and gold, so I’m ecstatic that I now represent OU even when I’m out and about. Now I get to have a piece of my beloved Oglethorpe with me everywhere I go!
I encourage all students and alums to show your Petrel pride on your ride! You can contact the OU Marketing department directly at 404-364-8468 for more information about getting an OU plate or you can order one directly at any Georgia DMV.
May
25
Room for improvement
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The restored former office fo the late President Thornwell Jacobs
It was Thornwell Jacob’s vision that returned the campus to the Atlanta area. Carrie Lee Henderson, Jacobs’ granddaughter, provided the initial inspiration for reconnecting to her father’s tenure as president at Oglethorpe University (1915-1943). But leave it to those folks in the library to grab a nugget of history and spin a vision around it.
Library Director Anne Salter proposed taking the room back to its former glory, to the days in the first half of the 20th Century when Jacobs sat behind a big desk and ran Oglethorpe University with great aplomb.
The goal was to complete the work and outfit the room as an archival museum filled with photos, memorabilia and historic timelines before Alumni Weekend in April. All systems were go: demolish a fake wall that covered the beautiful leaded glass doors from the inside; repair and replace broken crown mould along the ceiling; pull up the carpet squares that had been glued to the original hardwood floors; replace broken panes in the windows; repair the transom over the door and remove glue from the fireplace hearth and add a final touch – a fresh coat of warm, buttery paint.
Thornwell Jacobs
Much of the electrical was rewired in the process, too; an old air conditioning unit was removed and granite blocks seamlessly filled the gap. The restoration is complete. The room is a warm treasure trove to explore and enjoy. Please make a point to visit!
The room is now open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors to immerse themselves in Oglethorpe’s history since its founding in 1835.
Apr
26
Ring my bell…
Posted by: | CommentsWhy such a big deal, you ask? The bell tower stairwell is off-limits to just anyone. There are just a few keys tucked away in various places on campus that open the secret doorway to the Lupton bell tower. The only people authorized to climb the bell tower are graduating seniors (a couple days before they depart campus and set out into the real world!) and alumni who celebrate reunion years during Alumni Weekend.
Seniors, we’ll see you next week (meet in Lupton Auditorium at 4:45 p.m. Thursday) for your climb to ring the Carillon bells. You’ll go down in history as you climb the spiraling staircase and sign your name to the lengthy list of all the past climbers.
Here’s a brief (and interesting!) history of the bells here at Oglethorpe University… Read More→
Feb
10
Mark your calendars, alumni!
Alumni Weekend is April 16 – 18.
As you know from The Flying Petrel eNews – the monthly alumni e-newsletter – Alumni Weekend registration is open!The weekend will be full of fun events for alumni, their friends and families. With special reunion celebrations for classes ending in 0 and 5, decade parties for each decade, athletic alumni matches, Dinner in Dorough (a dinner for alumni athletes) and much more, this Alumni Weekend is sure to be the best yet!
Check out the full Alumni Weekend schedule and all the information you’ll need to go ahead and plan to be here April 16 – 18.
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