Founders' Day Celebration

We bring together civic and community leaders to honor those who contributed to the incorporation and chartering of New College on October 11, 1960.

The event takes place at 11 a.m. at Founders’ Circle in front of College Hall, followed by an al fresco community picnic luncheon. This is a free community event. For more information, call our Events Hotline at 941-487-4888.

Our special guest speaker will be Frank Brogan, Chancellor of the State University System. We will also hear from President Michalson and the first alumni trustee, Thomas Todd from the charter class, as well as our present student trustee, Chelsey Dye. Dignitaries include Shirley Hiss, wife of New College founder and first Board chair Philip Hiss; Mary Elmendorf, wife of the College’s second president, George Baughman; his daughter, Gaye Baughman Wood; early administrators Cope Garrett, Madeline Bonin, Babs Morris and founding registrar Nancy Ferraro; Robert Van Skike, the local attorney who filed the original paperwork in Tallahassee; Furman Arthur, the first employee of the College; and Judith MacNeil Merrill, wife of the Rev. John MacNeil, a founding trustee representing the United Church of Christ.

In the afternoon, there will be a panel discussion on higher education featuring faculty, students and representatives from our sister schools in the Consortium for Innovative Environments in learning (CIEL), who will meet on our campus that day, offering shared insights on “Keeping Innovation Fresh” through a series of open panels and presentations.