Fun and Fellowship at Founders Day 2022

Jeannine McKnight, senior editor
An alumnus and a Widener student cut an oversized cake in the shape of "200" during Founders Day.

The Widener community, including alumni from near and far, came together for a jampacked day of fun on April 8, 2022, for Founders Day, a special bicentennial event that celebrated our past, present, and future.

Alumni enjoy imagery from 1971 on display in the PMC Museum.

The day started with a continental breakfast for Pennsylvania Military College (PMC) alumni and was followed by the passing of the flag to Dauntless Battalion ROTC cadets and a wreath laying ceremony for the classes of 1970 and 1971 to honor their deceased classmates. 

Alumni convened to the PMC Memorial Garden for the Class of 1970’s dedication of a marker and bench. PMC alumni then moved to nearby Alumni Auditorium for the oral history project Voices from Freedom: PMC Oral History—Class of 1971.

Alumni gather around a bench on campus that was dedicated during the Founders Day celebrations.

M’Nya Preston and Madison Smith, the student creators of the Hidden History of Widener, led a curated walking tour exploring the meaningful people and places behind the 1960s Chester civil rights movement. 

The PMC Village Experience in the early afternoon offered lunch with class-specific seating, class photos, live music, and the delightfully entertaining ROTC Military Skills Competition hosted by the Dauntless Battalion.

Lathem Hall is full of alumni sitting a tables during a Founders Day event.

PMC alumni unveiled the Class of 1915 banner, which will hang proudly in the University Center Atrium and is an important reminder of Widener’s centuries-old foundation.

The day culminated in Pride-a-Palooza, a festival-style party for the entire Widener community with a 200th cake-cutting ceremony, games for all ages, food trucks and beer garden, student performances, DJ, balloon fun, face painting, and so much more!

Children of alumni and staff enjoy balloon hats and face paintings at Pride a Palooza.

PMC Founders Day Event Photos
Pride-a-Palooza Photos