2021
The College celebrated its 110th birthday on April 5, 2021, with the formal opening of The Dune, Conn’s new outdoor performance venue on Tempel Green. President Katherine Bergeron led the festivities and reflected on the College’s origin story. The day featured a performance by the student band Teal Darts, along with the ceremonial ringing of the bell at noon and birthday cake in Harris Refectory. Campus community members were also invited to take part in the Camels Count 48-Hour Giving Challenge. Read more about the day’s events.
2020
The College celebrated its 109th birthday on April 5, 2020 with a ceremonial bell-ringing on campus and the special message above from President Katherine Bergeron. The College's birthday, known as Founders Day, is celebrated on April 5, the date in 1911 on which the College’s original charter was signed by the Connecticut Secretary of State. The Connecticut State Assembly originally approved the charter on April 4 to Thames College. The name was changed a few months later to Connecticut College for Women.
2019
Conn celebrated 108 years of academic excellence April 5 with a Founders Day tea, an unprecedented fundraising challenge, ceremonial bell-ringing, and, of course, birthday cake. Through the challenge, initiated by generous donors Brad Brown P’12 ’15 ’20, Rob Hale ’88 P’20, Zoe Klein Henriquez ’99 and Raj Vig ’93, nearly 3,500 donors made gifts to the College totaling more than one million dollars. The Founders Day tea, held in Shain Library, featured remarks by President Katherine Bergeron and a performance by the a cappella group Miss Connduct.
2018
Connecticut College celebrated its 107th birthday with a gathering to formally dedicate the Otto and Fran Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement in Blaustein Humanities Center, and to recognize the rich history of international and global education at the College. President Katherine Bergeron noted that when the College opened its doors in 1915, the small group of faculty members included a significant percentage of professors with international credentials, which helped lay the foundation for Conn’s innovative global programs. Founders Day kicked off earlier in the afternoon with events to recognize Conn's early history.
2017
Connecticut College celebrated its 106th birthday on Wednesday, April 5th with a Founders Day Tea in the Charles E. Shain Library. President Katherine Bergeron led the festivities and was joined by members of the College and New London communities, including New London Mayor Michael Passero '79 M'89. The event included an a cappella performance of "On My Way Home" by the student group Miss Connduct.
2016
Connecticut College celebrated its 105th anniversary with a Founders Day Tea on Tuesday, April 5, from 3:45 to 5 p.m. in the newly renovated Charles E. Shain Library. Brief remarks by President Katherine Bergeron began at 4:15 p.m. Refreshments were served, and Founders Day Challenge participants spun the wheel for prizes!
2014
Connecticut College celebrated the Inauguration of President Katherine Bergeron on Founders Day 2014. The event was Saturday, April 5, with performances on the evening of Friday, April 4.
2013
In 2013, Founders Day coincided with the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the Pulitzer Prize to William Meredith, the late emeritus professor of English. A special event in Shain Library – the center of campus intellectual life – celebrated the life of the mind, the history of great teaching and the promise of all students. Emeriti faculty were the special guests.
2012
Connecticut College marked the 101st anniversary of its founding on April 5 with song, dance and cupcakes at a Founders Day birthday party. View a slideshow from the event. Also at the tea theater professor David Jaffe '77 told the story of the College's founding through the voices of students past and present and the Chamber Choir performed the College's Centennial Song, along with two other historic pieces.
2011 - Centennial
The College celebrated its 100th birthday - the Centennial - and Founders Day on April 5, 2011. Read the news release.
Linda Eisenmann '75 delivered the Centennial Founders Day Keynote Address: "Refocusing Our Lens: The Founding of Connecticut College in Historical Context," and the Connecticut College Choir debuted the new Centennial Song.
View the 2011 Founders Day slideshow. (PC Users: Click "show info" in the top right corner to view the captions.)
2010
The College celebrated its first Founders Day and its 99th birthday in style on April 5, 2010, with student performances, a special Founders Day Tea and the unveiling of a new camel mascot at a celebration of athletics. Read the news release.