Website, Theme House & Assorted Events
With the William Smith Centennial beginning with Founders Day in 2006 and culminating with a gala celebration in 2008, efforts were made to tailor the events of the intervening years to the theme of "leading women." Existing events such as Moving Up Day and the President's Forum were tailored to this theme, while other events were created specifically for the event.
On September 19, 2008, exactly 100 years after the official opening day of William Smith College, the William Smith Dean's Office held an Opening Day Dinner. In addition to the normal Honors society inductions, there was "a special centennial segment" where students dressed as the Class of 1912 and offered "reflections from the perspective of the inaugural William Smith Class."
A special theme house was also created. There were "William Smith is my homeboy" t-shirts.
In the fall of 2008, 141 St. Clair became the Centennial Leadership Theme House. On November 9, the house held a pre-gala birthday party in the Scandling Center. They had birthday cake, refreshments, and music. The first 100 attendees received a "William Smith is my Homeboy" t-shirt that they could tie-dye at the party.
The Colleges also created a special website for the Centennial. It featured an historical timeline, a digitized scrapbook from a member of the charter class, a suggested reading list from faculty about women and leadership, and histories of the Colleges and William Smith. Visitors to the website could also learn about Centennial events and submit nominations for the Elizabeth Blackwell Award, President's Medal, and Heron Hall of Honor.
The website won a 2008 Silver Award in the special purpose Web site category from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. The website was created under the supervision of Dean of William Smith College Debra DeMeis P’06, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mara O’Laughlin ’66, and Director of Alumnae Affairs Kathy Killius Regan ’82.
