Britney Hirras
Published: October 12, 2005
PJC is conducting an Alumni and Friends Celebration Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22 at the Pensacola campus. The celebration is aimed at gathering PJC’s alumni, as well as potential donors, onto the campus to celebrate PJC’s 57th successful year.
To commemorate the event, E.W. Hopkins, one of PJC’s first graduates in 1949, will be the honorary chair of the celebration.
There are several events planned. The first will be an alumni and faculty art exhibit that lasts for two days in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts on Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1-3 p.m., with about 12 artists participating.
A Celebration Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, will be held at the Lou Ross Center with live entertainment by the Reunion Band, food, dancing, door prizes, and PJC memorabilia. Christian Garman from WEAR and Mike Wiggins will emcee the event.
On Friday, Oct. 21, a Leaders and Legends awards luncheon will take place and awards will be presented to friends and alumni of PJC for achievements in leadership.
Antonio Guiliano, PJC alumnus who joined the US army chorus and traveled around the world doing various operas, sang at Reagan’s funeral, and sold out a concert here at PJC in 2002, will be performing in the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Prior to his performance, a “Celebrating the Arts” wine and cheese reception will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts.
Saturday afternoon be sure to watch former major league player and PJC alumnus Greg Litton and other locals on the field with the 2004 state baseball champions, the PJC Pirates.
PJC has prepared for this celebration for months.
“We have a committee of about 50 people and they’re divided into various committees for all of the events,” Kat Davis, PJC foundation communications specialist, said. “There’s a committee for leaders and legends, committee for the celebration event itself, there’s a baseball committee, and of course the staff of the foundation and college development and alumni affairs. It’s taking up pretty much all of their day to get ready.
“We have a lot of publicity going on, we have three billboards around the city, there was an ad in the paper, many press releases, and a press conference on Sept. 12 that was widely attended. So we’re just really very busy.”
The Celebration event, she said, is a way to reconnect with old alumni and expand the college’s base of support.
“We need money to make up the difference for the money that the state provides to the college and what we actually need- and to increase our support base,” she said.
Davis hopes PJC students will attend not only for fun, but to learn more about the history of the college.
“You’ll be able to see, really, the long way that we’ve come- that PJC’s come a long way, baby. You’re going to see a lot of then and now pictures, all kinds of memorabilia, there will be all kinds of faculty there, and we have some wonderful old photos.
“There will be a chance to learn about the alumni celebration, and (hopefully) you as students will participate in the alumni association after you leave PJC.”