Anyone driving north on Muskogee Avenue toward Northeastern State University recently may have noticed some changes taking place in front of Seminary Hall.

Workers have labored diligently the past few months preparing the area for the placement of the Sequoyah sculpture and the creation of Centennial Plaza, just south of Seminary Hall. The area is being designed as a gathering place for NSU students, faculty, staff and visitors alike.

“The Sequoyah statue will forever link NSU with its origins as a Normal School beginning in 1909 and as the locus for Cherokee higher education as early as the 1850s,” said NSU President Dr. Don Betz. “The Plaza and the revitalized entry to the NSU campus in Tahlequah will welcome students and visitors to the institution.”

The statue will be unveiled as part of the dedication of Centennial Plaza during Founders Day festivities Friday, March 6. Founders Day, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Oklahoma Legislature’s approving the purchase of Seminary Hall and the surrounding land from the Cherokee Nation, marks the official launch of NSU’s Centennial Celebration.

The bronze statue of Sequoyah (George Guess), creator of the Cherokee syllabary, will stand at the heart of Centennial Plaza in front of Seminary Hall as a lasting tribute to NSU’s shared history with the Cherokee Nation.

Since August 2008, NSU Centennial Countdown activities have created excitement and enthusiasm for this historic day. Events including a lecture from civil rights figure Elizabeth Eckford of the Little Rock Nine, a return performance with internationally acclaimed opera singer Barbara McAlister, and a tribute to and surprise concert from NSU alumna Carrie Underwood, have made the past few months memorable for the students, faculty, staff and community members that NSU serves.

With less than 55 days until Founders Day, NSU has several more events to build excitement for the Centennial Celebration. On Wednesday, Jan. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 22, Mark Pinsky, author of “The Gospel According to ‘The Simpsons,’” will present lectures on the Broken Arrow and Tahlequah campuses. On Friday, Feb. 13, the NSU Alumni Association is hosting the NSU Sweetheart’s Luncheon for students who met and married their sweethearts while roaming the campuses. These are in addition to the performances, events and lectures that will occur throughout the coming days.

In addition to the unveiling of the Sequoyah sculpture, Founders Day will also mark the announcement of NSU’s 100 Centurions. The 100 Centurions are a unique group of individuals who have made an impact on the lives of NSU students and community members throughout the past century. Nominations for the 100 Centurions are being accepted online through Saturday, Jan. 31 and can be made by visiting www.nsuok.edu/centennial/ and clicking the link to the 100 Centurions nomination form at the bottom of the page. Those who are not able to submit a nomination online may contact Jerry Cook, director of Community Relations, for further information at (918) 444-2009.

“The Cherokee Nation was the first to educate young women and we are standing on hallowed ground in terms of Oklahoma education,” said Betz. “When you think back to where it began, people weren’t thinking just about the moment, they were thinking about how deeply they could plant the seeds of education to make sure people would grow and that society would flourish.”

Following Founders Day, a number of activities and events are planned to honor the institution’s historic milestone. The Centennial Book Committee is hard at work putting the finishing touches on a work that chronicles the history of Northeastern in photos and prose.

The Larry Adair Centennial Lectureship is slated Wednesday, March 25, featuring Jessy Tolkan, who is affiliated with the Washington, D.C.-based Energy Action Coalition. Larry Coker, former head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, will present the final Centennial Lecture on Saturday, April 18. NSU will hold the Inauguration of the 17th president, Dr. Don Betz, on Friday, May 1.

The Founders Day committee is finalizing a complete schedule of activities for the day and will post it online at www.nsuok.edu/ centennial.