NU launches silver celebrations
Nipissing University will turn 25 on December 10, 2017, and the party starts now. The university held a launch last Friday to launch a year of celebrations marking its 25th Anniversary as an independent degree granting institution. Guests packed the front foyer to witness the unveiling of a new 25th Anniversary logo, and to hear speeches from some community leaders, including Dr. Mike DeGagné, university president; Ian Hall, representing MP Anthony Rota; Vic Fedeli, MPP Nipissing; Sheldon Forgette, deputy mayor of North Bay; Jordan Andrews, president Nipissing University Student Union; and Steve McArthur, member, Nipissing University Alumni Advisory Board.
“The coming months will be a chance for us all to look back on our first 25 years and to look forward,” said university president, Dr. Mike DeGagné. “Much will change in the next 25 years, and certainly this university will have many new achievements and successes to celebrate.”
The first event of the year happens this Friday, December 9, with a spirit day celebrating Nipissing. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to show their Laker pride by wearing blue and green and/or Nipissing clothing. At noon in the Nipissing Cafeteria, awards will be presented to the most spirited student, and the most spirited faculty or staff member.
Later on Friday night, from 6 -8 p.m., Nipissing will be handing out branded cookies as part of the North Bay Mall Cookie Crawl. Cookies will be on offer on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. as well, during the Farmers Market in the North Bay mall.
A gala event will be held later in 2017, as a chance to invite the entire community to celebrate with Nipissing and witness the opening of a time capsule that was sealed into the wall in 1992 with strict instructions to open in 2017.
During Friday’s launch event, Dr. Blaine Hatt, Nipissing University senate speaker, and Dr. Trevor Bachelder, member of the university’s Board of Governors, unveiled the 25th anniversary logo, designed by Nipissing’s marketing department.
The logo design features a large silver number 25 as well as the anniversary dates, 1992 - 2017. The image incorporates familiar organic shapes that are a condensed version of the Nipissing University ribbons seen in marketing campaigns for all audiences. The three ribbons represent past, present, and future and inspire a sense of movement -- symbolizing forward thinking, growth, and moving toward the future. The pop of colour in the ribbons includes official Nipissing colours: navy and dark green, with the addition of teal.
Vic Fedeli, MPP Nipissing, spoke fondly about Nipissing’s early days while touching on current and future successes.
"Those fun days of the past have turned into monumental days for the future of Nipissing University," he said.
If you are interested in getting involved to help celebrate Nipissing’s 25th Anniversary, please send an email to NU25@nipissingu.ca to express your interest.