Oswego County TodayScene Around Town: Happy Birthday, SUNY Oswego

The year of SUNY Oswego's birth 150 years ago takes on lives of its own Tuesday as faculty, staff and students mark the college's sesquicentennial near Glimmerglass Lagoon, with the Village student townhouses as a backdrop. A "birthday bash" for founder Edward Austin Sheldon -- born Oct. 4, 1823 -- put an exclamation point on the day's festivities. (SUNY Oswego photo by Charles Wainwright)

College Celebrates Sheldon’s Birthday
OSWEGO, NY – Hundreds of people “dated” themselves Tuesday on the SUNY Oswego campus.

From left, Laurie McDermott, Office of University Development; Laura Pavlus, Office of Alumni Relations; Amy Dumas, Office of University Development; Kathy Clark, Office of University Development; and Barbara Fike, Office of University Development. They helped direct people in order to create the 1861 photo on Tuesday.

Faculty, staff, students, as well as elected officials and others assembled in the form of the year “1861” for a photo to commemorate the occasion of the birthday of the college’s founder, Edward Austin Sheldon.

Sheldon was born on Oct. 4, 1823.

The event was part of the all-campus celebration of the 150th anniversary of Sheldon’s founding of what is now SUNY Oswego.

“This is part of history; we’re part of the 150 years of this college’s history,” said student Lisa Bryan as she waited in line to get a commemorative T-shirt before finding her place in one of the numbers outlined in chalk near Glimmerglass Lagoon. “We’re celebrating Sheldon’s birthday. Students and faculty and staff – everybody is taking part, that’s what makes it so special.”

John Hughes, a senior, added, “I’m excited, too. It’s my last year and to be part of this, part of the legacy of SUNY Oswego is really special. It’s really good to see everybody out here; not just faculty and staff but all the students, as well. There’s a real connection here.”

Brittany Siragusa and John Hughes display the T-shirts everyone in the special anniversary photo wore.

“I’m excited about it. We’re celebrating 150 years. We are going to be part of the picture that’s going to be around for a long time. It’s part of the college’s history. Today is Sheldon’s birthday so it makes all the more significant,” said Brittany Siragusa, a graduate grad student.

Following the “1861” photo, an all-campus picnic was held in the academic quad from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. with the giant “150th birthday cake” being unveiled at noon.