Founders Day speaker

Staff Report

Feb. 15, 2001 10 PM

Troy State University will celebrate Founders Day Monday, Feb. 26 with a ceremony featuring a special TSU employee recognition ceremony and a keynote speech by Dr. David Bronner, Chief Executive Officer of the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

The ceremony is set to begin at 11 a.m. in the Claudia Crosby Theater.

The purpose of Founders Day is to celebrate Troy State University’s tradition of service to southeast Alabama and continuing mission of academic excellence. Members of the public from across the region and state are invited to attend the ceremony.

The presentation of service pins to Troy State University employees will highlight the day’s events. Employees with five years or more of service will receive special pins, with different designs designating number of years of service.

Three hundred and forty-six of TSU’s 442 full-time employees will be eligible for recognition awards, including 14 employees with more than 30 years of service and two employees with more than 35 years of service.

"This recognition of the members of the TSU family is important, because we want our employees to know they are valuable to the success of this university," Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, said. "This program is just one way to say thank you."

The remarks from Dr. Bronner will also be appropriate, Dr. Hawkins said, as the RSA chief has played a key role in assisting TSU’s mission. He served as the Chairman of Troy State University’s first capital campaign, "The Quest for Excellence." The campaign, which was completed in February 2000, raised more than $21 million on an $18 million goal.

Dr. Bronner has consistently supported excellence in Alabama higher education, according to Dr. Hawkins.

"We’re always pleased to have Dr. David Bronner speak on our campus," Dr. Hawkins said. "He is one of our state’s most visionary leaders."

Troy State University Founders Day is celebrated on Feb. 26 to coincide with the day in 1887 when Gov. Thomas Seay approved the act to create a normal school for education of teachers in Pike County. The school became Troy State Teachers College in 1927 and Troy State College in 1957 before achieving university status in 1967.