Plans are being finalized for the celebration of LIU Post’s 60th anniversary this fall.
Special events are planned throughout Homecoming weekend, from Oct. 8 to 11, according to Kelly Walles, LIU’s Associate Director of PR and Social Media. She added that smaller events will be planned to celebrate the anniversary throughout the academic year.
LIU Post, which was named for breakfast cereal manufacturer Charles William Post, was established in 1954 with its first class entering the next year. The property was purchased by Long Island University from Charles’ daughter, Majorie Merriweather Post in 1951.
In the first few years of the university’s history, students attended classes in buildings that were already present on the estate, due to the little money the university had to construct new buildings.
The Homecoming anniversary celebration will include a performance by Kristin Chenoweth at the Tilles Center on Oct. 10, a lecture by Political Science Professor Michael Soupios on Oct. 9, and a Pep Rally for students on Oct. 9, among other events.
At the Pep Rally, Joe Gatto, who is a member of the comedy troupe “The Tenderloins” and one of the hosts of the reality show, “Impactical Jokers,” will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award “recognizes a highly distinguished alumnus of alumna who, over the course of a decade or more, has exemplified outstanding, significant professional achievement,” said Ryan Reilly, LIU Post’s Director of Alumni Relations.
“Homecoming is an opportunity to come ‘home,’ said Kimberly R. Cline, LIU’s president. “Homecoming celebrations connect thousands of past graduates with current students and their families. For those who have not been back for some time, they will get to see firsthand the impressive changes and growth on campus. It’s also the chance to relive memories and to make new ones.”
Walles stated that at the Pep Rally, a fireworks show will also be held. This show is the first one of its kind at Post and will be hosted by the company Fireworks by Grucci. LIU Post Literacy graduate student Nicole Cunningham is pleased about the preparations to celebrate the university’s anniversary. “There’s a lot of tradition and history on our campus and the 60th anniversary is a great time to celebrate it,” Cunningham said.
Post alumnus Matt Soldano, class of 2010, who hosted a sports radio show for the campus radio station, WCWP, while he attended Post and who now works for NeuLion, said of LIU Post’s 60th anniversary, “I think it’s great that Post wants to recognize the 60th anniversary and create a buzz about it around campus and the community. I think it excites the current students and also allows alumni to reconnect.” Soldano added, “Anything that is able to connect past alum with current students is a great way to celebrate. I think when current students see alum come back for these types of events, it gives them a sense of pride to attend Post. The anniversary should reflect what the school has done in the past and all it has to look forward to in the future. I think the 60th anniversary is a great symbol for that.”
“It’s an honor to be celebrating the 60th anniversary of LIU Post as its president,” said Cline. “We have an entire weekend planned filled with a full array of events and exciting appearances making this the largest Homecoming celebration in the University’s history. Students, alumni and the community will get to connect and interact with one another while showing their Pioneer pride. It’s an opportunity to be a part of LIU history.”
This article was originally published in the Pioneer, the award-winning student newspaper of LIU Post, www.liupostpioneer.com, and is republished here by Blank Slate Media with the permission of the Pioneer.
