Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University's 129th birthday later this month will be celebrated locally and nationally.
The Feb. 28 observation of the day in 1878 when state legislators voted to establish the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College will take place on the Starkville campus and at nearly two dozen locations around the country.
"We are inviting all alumni and friends, along with prospective students and their parents, to attend one of the 22 parties being organized by local MSU Alumni Association chapters," said association executive director Jimmy Abraham. "It's all very simple: show up and enjoy ice cream, cake, and great Bulldog fellowship."
Wherever they may be, university supporters are being encouraged to wear maroon throughout the day, he added.
Sponsored by the Starkville-based Cadence Bank, the campus party will be held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the Drill Field, with complimentary barbecue, entertainment and a large cake created by MSU Dining Services. For those unable to attend, campus radio station WMSV-FM (91.1) will provide a live broadcast also available at www.wmsv.msstate.edu.
Abraham, who also is interim vice president for development and alumni, said nine in-state chapters are sponsoring birthday celebrations at 6 p.m. They include Booneville, Greenville, Greenwood, Lucedale, Moss Point, Rolling Fork, Starkville, Southaven, and Tupelo.
Out-of-state chapter parties will be held in Atlanta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, La.; Birmingham, Florence, Huntsville, and Mobile, Ala.; Austin and Dallas, Texas; Jackson and Memphis, Tenn.; New York City; and Washington, D.C.
Persons planning to attend one of the local birthday parties are being asked to R.S.V.P. online on or before Feb. 26 at https://ssl2.msstate.edu/alumni/party/, which also provides specific time-and-location information. Replies are not required for the campus event.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.