2/03/20
NORTH ADAMS, MASS.—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announces its 125th Anniversary Celebration will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2020, in the Amsler Campus Center Gym. Cocktails will be served from 5-6:30 p.m., with dinner and program to begin at 6:30 p.m.
This major fundraising event will highlight the work of MCLA students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members who have worked to elevate students’ lives. When the Massachusetts State Legislature established the North Adams Normal School in 1894, it began a mission of social mobility by providing students with a valuable education and equipping them with the tools they need to live elevated lives. Since then, the school has seen several name changes, campus expansions, and programming enhancements. Through it all, the College has not lost sight of its goal. The proceeds from the 125th celebration event will support the MCLA 125th Elevating Lives Fund, established in 2019 to aid student scholarships, career-launching internships, and life-changing travel experiences.
Leading up to the celebration, MCLA will host the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference. Six outstanding students or project groups will be selected from the conference to present their research during the anniversary celebration cocktail hour. Guests will be able to vote for their top student research project. The student winner will be announced during the evening’s program and will be presented with the Feigenbaum Scholar Award to support their research.
During the celebration event, MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D., will award three Presidential Medallions, honoring Jane Allen ’61 HD ’02, BRIDGE, and The Fairbank Group, for their commitment and dedication to MCLA and the Commonwealth.
“The College has been fortunate to receive strong support from community partners throughout its 125 years in existence,” said President Birge. “We want to acknowledge how grateful we are to them for allowing MCLA to continue enriching the lives of students. Together, we have been able to positively impact thousands of lives, to the benefit of our region and the Commonwealth at large, and look forward to building on that legacy.”
Janine Driver ’92, body language expert, author, and speaker, will close out the evening with a keynote and demonstration on the science and art behind her work. North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard will serve as the host for the evening.
Adams Community Bank, which celebrated 150 years of serving northern Berkshire County in 2019, is the headlining sponsor for this event.
For more information, please visit alumni.mcla.edu/125event. For questions, contact Jackie Kelly, coordinator of conferences and campus events, at jacqueline.kelly@mcla.edu or 413.662-5185.
