Impressive crowd weathers successful 50th anniversary celebration

Despite the rainy weather, early hour and late football game, nearly 250 alumni and friends of the UNC School of Dentistry attended the school's 50th anniversary celebration, Saturday, September 23. In addition to marking the opening of the school's doors on Sept. 20, 1950, the celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the Alumni Garden in front of Brauer Hall, along Manning Drive.

Ken May, Jr., associate dean for administration and planning, remarked on the school's history and its goals for the future before introducing the celebration's first speaker, University of North Carolina President Molly Broad. Her comments stressed the impact of the UNC bond referendum, on the UNC System and the N.C. Community College System. More than $20 million of the funds would come to the School of Dentistry for renovations.

Ken May, Jr.

Class of '54

Robert Daniel, a member of the Class of 1954, spoke about being one of the first students to attend classes at the School of Dentistry.

"Most of all, I remember a lot of hard work," Daniel said with a laugh.

Alison Boone, a representative of the class of 2004, expressed similar sentiments.
"Being a dental student today is probably somewhat similar to what it was like when you were here," she said. "We still dread some of the same classes and, of course, we dread the tests."

The department chairs introduced the school's new faculty members. Mike Roberts, chair of the department of pediatric dentistry, shared a recruiting story for the most recent addition to his staff, Anne Dodds. A native of Scotland, she suffered through the unexpected winter snowstorm that blasted Chapel Hill last January, spending several nights at a local hotel without electricity, hiking through nearly two feet of snow to Roberts' home, and waiting five additional days before she was able to board an airplane to return home.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Alumni Garden concluded the program.
" The garden is a gift of the UNC Dental Alumni Association and the cost was underwritten by members of the association," said Randy Fussell, a 1990 graduate and president of the association.

The celebration continued with a catered brunch in Brauer and Tarrson Halls.

The Foy Family

Special thanks to the students who assisted with the event set-up.

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