In late April 2011, Harvard University announced that in order to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the founding of the school, the school will conduct a year-long commemorative activities to review history and highlight Harvard’s achievements in teaching, innovation and research over the past 300 years. outstanding achievements. On the afternoon of May 26, during the preview of Harvard University’s graduation ceremony, Harvard President Foster announced relevant activity plans. On the same day, Harvard's 375th anniversary website was launched, and various information and activities related to the anniversary will be released.
Foster said: "Through the anniversary commemoration activities, we must not only look back on the past, but also take great strides forward. The school will recall Harvard's rich history and past traditions, and miss those who have taught at Harvard. As teachers, we will also devote our energy and attention to the issues that define Harvard’s present and future.”
To this end, Harvard will work with alumni, current teachers, and students on campus. A series of events are held around the world to commemorate this historic event. Activities will include a variety of arts and cultural activities, academic lectures and academic discussions, as well as a series of special commemorative activities, such as "Harvard Stories" - exploring Harvard campus and beyond, and Harvard Campus Mobile Tour - an online virtual tour project wait.
School Anniversary Celebrations
Harvard announced that the official celebration of the School Anniversary will be scheduled on October 14, and thereafter, the activities will continue until the end of May 2012. On the evening of October 14, Harvard will first hold a dormitory dinner, and then alumni, teachers, students and staff will gather in the Tercentenary Theater to participate in a series of activities, including parades, song and dance performances, and a concert by the famous Chinese cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Celebration chef Joanna Zhang, a 1991 Harvard graduate, will also make a birthday cake specially for her alma mater. Of course, the celebration planning committee is also coordinating other activities during the celebration.
Coincidentally, the October 14th celebration coincides with the annual Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard College Foundation and Admissions Interviewer volunteer recruitment drive. It is said that approximately 700 volunteers will participate in related activities that day.
The Harvard Anniversary website stated that it will release relevant information about the Anniversary one after another, and at the same time calls on people to remember the celebrations, join the Harvard family, and participate in various events throughout the year. event to commemorate this important day in the history of Harvard.
Representatives of the school expressed the hope that through the celebrations in October, all Harvard people will be inspired to review the history of Harvard and focus on the future of Harvard.
According to reports, Harvard’s various colleges and research institutions will hold various commemorative activities to highlight their respective achievements.
Looking back on four major achievements over the past 375 years
In celebrating its 375th anniversary, Harvard particularly emphasized its achievements in the four fields of science, public service, diversity, and the arts. Achievement.
In the early days of its establishment and for more than 100 years after its establishment, Harvard has always focused on classical education and basically did not involve scientific knowledge. Therefore, when French journalist Volweiler visited Harvard in 1788, he was very surprised that the school did not pay attention to scientific knowledge. It would be another half century or so before Harvard opened the School of Science, the predecessor of today's Harvard Department of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Today, there are 10 Nobel Prize winners in the Harvard Physics Department alone. In 2007, Harvard President Foster proposed that higher education should take responsibility for the future when he took office. To this end, Harvard's mission includes bringing ideas out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. From 2006 to 2010, Harvard founded 39 companies, applied for 216 patents, and made as many as 1,270 inventions by teachers. Harvard has also established corresponding agencies such as the Technology Development Office to provide assistance in public services.
Elliot, who once served as Harvard president, said in his 1923 memoirs that one of the cores of Harvard’s tradition is the spirit of public service. The origin of this idea can be traced back to the American Civil War, when many Harvard students chose to fight for their country. Harvard University’s spirit of self-sacrifice, including enlisting in the military, continues to this day. In March 2011, Harvard took the lead in restoring the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) system established to train officers for the future army after 40 years. In recent years, Harvard's public service projects have increased day by day. Taking the law school as an example, all students must complete 40 hours of pro bono service to obtain graduation qualifications; the Kennedy School of Politics regards social service as the core mission of the school. Harvard people believe that helping others can change their own lives.
Looking back at history, Harvard was small in scale and had a narrow vision in the early days. Today, Harvard has become a world-class university. Some historians say that the year when this great change occurred should be 1936. That year, Harvard held its 300th anniversary celebration with the purpose of facing the world and embarking on a brighter stage.