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Annual Founder's Day Celebration Remembers George Pepperdine's Vision 

The Pepperdine community attended the annual Founder's Day celebration on Sept. 20 in Firestone Fieldhouse. Each year, this special convocation celebrates the vision of the University's founder, George Pepperdine, affirms Pepperdine's mission, and declares the opening of the new academic year.  

Provost Darryl L. Tippens officiated at the ceremony and introduced representatives of various University boards and councils who led the procession into Firestone Fieldhouse. Walking for the first time in the ceremony were members of the new Alumni Leadership Council. Led by a Scottish bagpipe and drum corps, faculty emeriti and representatives from the classes of 1939 to 2006 marched to conclude the academic procession.

This year, Christopher Parkening, Seaver College distinguished professor of music, gave the invocation followed by moving performances by the Seaver College Concert Choir under the direction of Milt Pullen.

In keeping with the Founder's Day tradition, Dr. Smythe, University archivist,  gave a brief background on George Pepperdine and spoke candidly of his fond memories of the Pepperdines, after which, he read the founder's dedicatory remarks from 1937. President Andrew K. Benton addressed the crowd, and introduced a reflective video of various accomplishments at Pepperdine during the past academic year, thoughtfully adding that the new academic year would be nothing less than the previous year's success. Dr. Tippens declared the opening of the 2006-2007 academic year, and Edwin L. Biggers, chairperson of the Board of Regents, offered the benediction.