Sesquicentennial events continue with special dedications, more celebrations

A day after the university gathered for a very special Founder’s Day ceremony and the installment of John Simon as its 14^th president, celebrations of the Lehigh’s sesquicentennial continued with an array of events—from arts and culture offerings to community gatherings, building dedications to a Homecoming Day football showdown against the Yale Bulldogs.

On Saturday morning, Lehigh officials, trustees and friends and of the university gathered at historic Williams Hall to dedicate the building that, thanks to the generosity of donors including Herb Roemmele ’53 and Sharon and James Maida ’85 ’17P '19P, has been transformed into a beautiful new global hub and student center.

At today’s ceremony, Lehigh President John Simon and Provost Patrick Farrell thanked the donors for their support, with Farrell telling the assembled audience that the renovation of the building was nothing short of “transformational.”

Roemmele reflected on this time at Lehigh, recalling a geography class he took at what was then a very different Williams Hall. He marveled at now the building's new look.

"Never in my wildest imagination would I have dreamed of being here 65 years later, and being able to thank you on behalf of a grateful graduate to a wonderful university—a university that provided for me the foundation to succeed," he said.

Maida said he and his wife supported the project because of their belief that students have to think globally in order to enjoy success in today’s ever-more complex world.

“You can’t go to college and think just about being here on campus, when the rest of the world is thinking internationally,” he said. “We are all connected, and we hope the students who enter this building will realize that.”

Earlier that morning, Simon gathered with Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez and other members of the community for a special Community Breakfast. The event, held on a rainy and chilly morning under the cover of the Tamerler Courtyard Outdoor Concert Pavilion—built especially for Lehigh’s Sesquicentennial Weekend—offered an opportunity for Lehigh officials celebrate and recognize the accomplishments and significant anniversaries of its community partners, as well as the university’s combined efforts to foster a vibrant South Bethlehem.

Over on Goodman Campus, meanwhile, there were a series of celebrations that extended even beyond the typical Homecoming weekend festivities.

As Lehigh’s impressive athletics campus continues to evolve, officials gathered to formally dedicated three recently renovated facilities—the expanded Cundey Varsity House, the beautiful new home of Lehigh’s hugely successful softball program, and the completely rebuild Ulrich Varsity Tennis Courts. All three projects were supported by former Lehigh chairman Ronald J. Ulrich ’67, who served in that role from 1996-2002 and over the years has supported a variety of key strategic initiatives at the university.

Later, the Lehigh community descended on Goodman Stadium to see their Mountain Hawks take on Yale. In a hard-fought affair--one played in less-than-ideal conditions--it was the Bulldogs who came out on top, earning a 27-12 win.

To read more about the game, see the full story at Lehigh Sports.com.