Sesquicentennial Jubilee
RIC ended its yearlong Sesquicentennial (150th) Celebration with a Jubilee
On the State House lawn
June 20, 2004.
It's a party that's been 150 years in the making!
Rhode Island College celebrated the end of its Sesquicentennial
(150th) year in old-fashioned style with a garden party and jubilee on
the State House lawn, a Torch Parade and WaterFire - a spectacular finale
to what has been a year full of academic achievements and festivities
- on Sunday, June 20.
Governor and Mrs. Donald Carcieri, as honorary co-chairs of RIC's Sesquicentennial,
led several of the special activities planned for the day.
The event began with a garden party on the lawn of the State House. Re-enactments
of College traditions from years past took place during the afternoon,
including a daisy-chain procession, authentic May Pole dance, and crowning
of the May queen.
RIC lit up the night with a torch parade and WaterFire. Fifty-four torches
were carried by members of the College and community leaders, beginning
at the State House and traveling down Francis Street to the basin of WaterPlace
Park. A magnificent WaterFire display followed, a gift from the College
to its friends, alumni and the state. RIC is the oldest public institution
of higher learning in the state. The flame is a recurrent symbol used
by the College to represent the ever-burning flame of knowledge.
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