Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

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It ' s all over now, this 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Year. nd it was all I had dreamed it would be. There was nostalgia. Looking back to the golden days of verybody ' s personal years at Olivet. Ray Moore and Byron Carmony sang about their days at old Dlivet. The honorary chairmen for the 75th Year — Carl S. IcClain, Dwight J. Strickler, and Naomi R. Larsen — were our acuity bridge from the village of Olivet to the village of Sourbonnais. And at the President ' s Dinner, Dr. Reed gave a full iccount of his years at Olivet. There were achievements to celebrate. The Larsen Fine rts Center was dedicated. More than fifteen hundred people isited the new Hardy C. Powers President ' s Home on campus. During the first Homecoming football game there were twin half- dedications of Ward Field and Snowbarger Athletic Park, etters of congratulations were received from such civic rganizations as the Bourbonnais village board and the loca istorical society on the continued beautification of the campus, specially Main Street. And there was a series of wonderful events to attend. The dramatic countdown during the October trustee dinner brought everyone to their feet as the Heritage Mural by Professor Collins was unveiled. The 75th Anniversary Convocation with the colorful academic march got a good response from students. And the 75th Anniversary Homecoming is a story all its own, closing with the great Sunday morning Festiva l of Worship in Chalfant Hall. But dreams are not enough. Nostalgia is only good to the degree it clarifies vision. There probably is more confidence in the future for Olivet now than ever before. These hard economic times will also pass. Enrollments will increase again. There will be more development projects such as the Decker Quad and the Les Parrott Physical Education Center. And someday Chalfant Hall will be replaced with a large, beautiful auditorium. But the most important vision for the year 2007 is an Olivet undiluted in spirit and still committed to its mission of Education with a Christian Purpose. i Lee Parrott, welcomed Mrs. Hardy C. Powers, along with President Parrott j opening of the Hardy C. Powers ' President ' s Home on campus. Dr. Harlow Hopkins, chairman of the Division of Fine Arts, shared a moment of joy with in cutting a piece of the ribbon to open the Larsen Fine Arts Center.