Holy Family University last week marked its 65th birthday by holding a Great Day to be a Tiger celebration.
About 400 people participated in the celebration.
The day included a Mass celebrated by the Rev. Jim MacNew, Tiger Talks by faculty and alumni, appearances by Fox 29 personality Bob Kelly and the school’s Tiger mascot, entertainment by the Quaker City String Band, food, Mini Melts ice cream, music, raffles, blue balloons in the shape of the number 65 and birthday cakes for the university and Kelly.
All the activities were in honor of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 17 of whom work at the university.
“It marks a success point,” university president Sister Maureen McGarrity said of the birthday. “We’re strong and healthy and looking forward to 65 more.”
Holy Family College, as it was known then, was granted a legal charter on Feb. 11, 1954 to pursue a corporate existence, establishing it as a four-year college for women, empowered to award bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences.
Men were admitted in the early 1970s, and Holy Family gained university status in 2002.
Today, more than 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students are studying in nearly 40 majors in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education and the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
Over the years, about 18,000 people have graduated from Holy Family. ••
