President F. Gregory Campbell talks to Carthage alumni in Carthage, Ill. See more photos from this event.

College hosts regional events to celebrate 165th anniversary

Carthage has begun a series of regional events offering alumni and friends opportunities to celebrate the 165th anniversary of the College's founding. The first events were a July 22 luncheon at Spiaggia, one of Chicago's most celebrated restaurants, and a dinner that evening at a Maggiano's restaurant in suburban Naperville, Ill.

Carthage's Senior Vice President for Academic Resources Brad Andrews talks with Janet and Clarence Griffin at an event in Milwaukee Aug. 11, 2011. See more photos from this event.

Lois Ennes, ’51, and Carthage Director of Development Sarah Harris, '87, at an event at Spiaggia in Chicago on July 22, 2011. See more photos from this event.

The next day saw a nostalgic visit to Carthage, Ill., home to the College for nearly a century before the move to Kenosha in the early 1960s. This dinner was held at Trinity Lutheran Church, the landmark church where generations of Carthaginians worshipped.

"It was really fun to be there," says Elaine Walton, '79, associate vice president for college relations, who has been involved in planning the regional gatherings. "You could envision what the College must have looked like, and what it meant to Carthage, Ill."

F. Gregory Campbell, president of the College, and Brad Andrews, senior vice president for academic resources, are scheduled to participate in all the regional events, to offer their perspectives on the state of the College at a pivotal time in its history. The program also includes a 10-minute video presentation on Carthage's growth from a small school in Hillsboro, Ill., to a leading liberal arts college.

"All of them were wonderful," Ms. Walton says of the first programs. "People seemed to appreciate the chance to meet with Mr. Campbell."

Celebrating Carthage is a year-long series of events, marking 165 years since the College’s founding, 50 years in Kenosha, the 25th year of the Campbell presidency, and Carthage's emergence as a leading liberal arts institution.

Additional events have been scheduled in several other areas in fall 2011 and early 2012. "We're taking Mr. Campbell on the road," Ms. Walton says. "Everyone is invited to share this celebration with us."

For more information on Celebrating Carthage and upcoming events, visit http://www.carthage.edu/celebrate, or call the Office of College Relations at (800) 551-1518.