Office of Public Relations
Missouri Baptist University
One College Park Drive
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141-8698
314.392.2307 / fax 314.392.2265
www.mobap.edu / pr@mobap.edu
For Immediate Release
RE: MBU Celebrates Forty Years at Founder's Day Convocation
MBU Celebrates Forty Years at Founder's Day Convocation
November 5, 2004
Missouri Baptist University Celebrated forty years of excellence in Christian education during the Founder’s Day Convocation on November 4, 2004.
Each year, MBU’s Founders Day service is held to reflect on the mission and beginnings of the University. The service was especially remarkable this year as special guests, faculty, staff, and students came to not only honor the founders, but to commemorate forty years of excellence in Christian higher education. As part of the service recognizing the 40-year-mark, several past presidents addressed the student body.
Following special music performed by the MBU concert band, Dr. Andy Chambers, Vice President for Student Development, welcomed guests. “You realize at Founders Day how many people have sacrificed through the years for the cause of Christian higher education in the St. Louis area,” he stated. “Their service must never be forgotten.”
The special service was an opportunity for the MBU Chorale to premier the recently commissioned Alma Mater, “The Home of White and Blue.” Dr. Ladd Faszold, professor of music, composed the words and music to this revised piece.
Dr. Kellogg, former pastor of Maplewood Baptist Church and first president of the University, was present at the ceremony and recalled his time spent in service to University. As college president, Kellogg saw enrollment grow more than 43% during his first year as president. Under his leadership, the MBU officially separated from Hannibal-LaGrange, expanded its program to a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree, and graduated the first class of twenty-nine students.
In their father’s absence, Charlene Slates and Patrice Mugg attended the ceremony and spoke on behalf of their father, Dr. Patrick O. Copley. With his background at a public institution, Dr. Copley understood the value of quality academics and initiated three immediate goals for his presidency: financial viability, clarification of the University mission statement, and enhancement of the academic image. Dr. Copley led the University to initiate the EXCEL high school dual-enrollment program and to establish the Troy/Wentzville Extension center.
Also present was Dr. Thomas S. Field, Acting President from 1991 to 1995. He provided stabilizing leadership for the University and began planning for a new 100-student dormitory. During Field’s presidency, the College also saw growth in its extension campuses with the approval of the 2+2 program at Jefferson College.
University president Dr. R. Alton Lacey presided over the ceremony and hosted a reception for both students and honored guests following the service. “Listening to past presidents speak about their time at this university gave me a new appreciation for where we’ve been and how far we’ve come,” said freshman communications major Rebecca Sides.
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Missouri Baptist University is a premier Christian university in Saint Louis, offering graduate and undergraduate studies in over thirty specialized fields and nine degrees. MBU's education and fine arts programs are nationally known in addition to business, religion, administration of justice, and more. MBU is one of the fastest growing higher education institutions in Missouri with an enrollment of over 4,500 students at five locations in the bi-state region — West County, Lincoln County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and the new Illinois extension at Lewis and Clark Community College.
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