Constant Center opening and Founders' Day set for Oct. 25

Friday, Oct. 25, will be a red-letter day for the university, with the grand opening of the Ted Constant Convocation Center, followed by the annual Founders' Day dinner, which will be held in the new facility.

Gov. Mark Warner will be the guest speaker for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. It will be preceded by a reception at 4:30. Both events are open to the public. After the ribbon is cut, guided tours of the convocation center will be given from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The Founders' Day program, titled "Realizing Dreams," will follow these events at 7 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $30 per person; students can attend for $15. Reservations are due by Oct. 21 and may be made by calling 683-3116. (RSVPs are also requested from those who plan to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.)

Nine former students will receive Distinguished Alumni awards during the dinner program, and eight other awards will be presented, including the University Medal to James V. Koch, Board of Visitors Professor of Economics and President Emeritus, and G. William Whitehurst, Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs.

Also presented will be the Batten Award for philanthropy, Albert B. "Buck" Gornto Jr. Regional Service Award, Distinguished Entrepreneurial Award, Town-N-Gown Community Service Awards, Tim Miller Athletic Award and an Honorary Alumnus designation.