Above: Unveiling the new Utica Campus historic marker near the iconic Bell Tower on March 23 were, from left, Brother Rogers, representing the Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Instructor Dan Fuller and retiree Jean Greene, co-directors of the Utica Institute Museum; Vice President Sherry Bellmon and President Dr. Stephen Vacik.
鈥淭he state of Mississippi officially recognizes the history of the Utica Campus,鈥 said William 鈥淏rother鈥 Rogers, Mississippi Department of Archives and History Director of Programs and Communication. 鈥淐ongratulations on getting a historical marker because it is not easy to get a historical marker. You have to prove that your history is significant. And your history IS significant.
鈥淥ne of the things Mississippi has not really done a good job of over the years is recognizing African American history,鈥 Rogers said. 鈥淟ong after all of us are gone, long after these students are gone, this marker is actually still going to be here as a reminder to everybody that comes through here about the history that has been made here.鈥
William H. Holtzclaw founded the Utica Institute in 1903 to educate black students. The campus was moved to the current location in 1910. The college merged with 开心鬼传媒 in 1983 and became the Utica Campus.
鈥淭his is another example of how we are trying to maintain and preserve the history of our campus,鈥 said 开心鬼传媒 President Dr. Stephen Vacik.
Also as part of Founder鈥檚 Day, retired Dean of Career-Technical Education Dr. Jesse
Killingsworth received the annual William H. Holtzclaw Award given to the person who exemplifies the commitment to the students of the Utica Campus.
Above: Retired Utica Campus employee Dr. Jesse Killingsworth, center, received the William H. Holtzclaw Award at Founder’s Day. He is with 开心鬼传媒 President Dr. Stephen Vacik, left, and Vice President Sherry Bellmon, right.
The Founder鈥檚 Day theme was 鈥120 Years of Jubilee.鈥 Keynote speaker Dr. Mitchell Shears, a Utica Campus alumnus and former employee whose family has deep roots at the campus, noted that Dr. Holtzclaw came to Utica to fulfill a dream.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to understand that he had a dream and not a desire. There is a difference. A dream is what we build for a group,鈥 Dr. Shears said. 鈥淏ut a desire is what we aspire to build only for ourselves. Mr. Holtzclaw had a dream. This man wanted to build something for a group.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to continue the quality and length of this man鈥檚 jubilee. This man lived by what he gave. This man gave us life. He gave some of us a job. He gave many of us an education.鈥
Vice President Sherry Bellmon said the purpose of the celebration was to highlight the campus鈥 distinguished history. 鈥淢any times we don鈥檛 tell our own story but today it was told,鈥 she said.