USA President Gordon Moulton’s letter describing the University’s 50th Anniversary celebration and related events, reprinted from USA National Alumni Association magazine “Looking South”.

Dear USA Alumni and supporters,

“It’s time to come home.”

This nostalgic phrase is being used by the USA National Alumni Association as an appeal to you for our 50th Anniversary celebration during the 2012-13 academic year. Only you and the spirit of our alumni and supporters can make this a true milestone anniversary where we look back at our accomplishments and forward to the bright future. I would like to personally invite you to come home during this important moment in the life of our University.

Some of you have already “come home” figuratively by pledging your financial support to our 50th Anniversary Annual Fund Drive, which already has been a remarkable success. Here are some other opportunities for you to come home this year (all are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted):

• Shelby Hall Dedication: Sunday, Sept. 9, 3 p.m. -- will showcase USA’s newest academic building and honor U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby for his efforts that led to the construction of Shelby Hall, new home to the College of Engineering and the School of Computing.
  
  
• Arts and History Day at USA: a 50th Anniversary celebration of the arts and Old Mobile history, set for Sunday, Oct. 14, from 2-5 p.m. Event will feature the grand opening and open house for new displays of the region’s cultural history at USA’s Archaeology Museum; a presentation on the ancient art process used to create the new Moulton Tower murals; fine arts glassblowing demonstrations; and outdoor musical and theatrical performances.
  
  
• Homecoming 2012: Our 50th Anniversary Homecoming weekend, Oct. 18-20, will include a dedication for the new murals at Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza. This event on Friday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m., will also honor new lifetime members of the USA National Alumni Association, followed by the Homecoming parade, pep rally, fireworks, and music. The four beautiful ceiling murals under the tower were created by Jason Guynes, USA visual arts department chair and noted muralist. The four panels depict teaching, research, outreach and health care, and student life.
  
  
• USA Holiday Concert: Thursday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. Mitchell Center – an annual showcase of USA’s musical talent with a holiday theme.
  
  
• USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital expansion-- in the spring of 2013 we expect to dedicate a major expansion that will transform the hospital’s ability to serve the health care needs of women and children in our region. Time and date to be announced.
  
  
• Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards Gala: March 7, 2013, 6 p.m. -- A special 50th Anniversary edition of this important annual event of the USA National Alumni Association to recognize alumni achievement and service to the University. See the Alumni web site for ticket information.
  
  
• 50th Anniversary Celebration: this crowning event of our 50th Anniversary year will be held at Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza on Friday evening, May 3, 2013 -- 50 years to the day from when USA was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature. We will hear from early civic and governmental leaders, faculty, staff, students and alumni, who will give first-person accounts of the early days of the institution as part of a grand celebration evening.
  
  
• Spring Commencement, May 11, 2013, 2 p.m. -- will touch on USA’s history and bring back some voices from the University’s past.

Gordon Moulton 
President
President's Letter (PDF) with photos of the events