East Tennessee State University will soon begin a year-long observance of its centennial, and all who want to join in can remain updated through a special Web site created by the university.Visitors to www.etsu.edu/100years will find a wide range of information, including a calendar of concerts, plays, art exhibits and other events that relate to the centennial theme, “Partnerships, Promise, and Hope for a Hundred Years.”

On Oct. 2, 1911, ETSU opened its doors as East Tennessee State Normal School and welcomed 29 students to campus. Today, the university enrolls almost 15,000 students.

Visitors to the Web site can view a timeline that highlights ETSU historical events and accomplishments through the years. The site also offers a treasure trove of campus photos, a virtual tapestry of people, places and events in an historical arc from the black-and-white photographs of yesteryear to the digital color of today.

Other features include a page to view and purchase official centennial memorabilia, a collection of stories and photos about past events, and a listing of links to other sites of interest, including an ETSU centennial page on Facebook and a Twitter feed.

The Web site was designed by two ETSU employees, Michaele Laws and Tanner Clements, who are members of a centennial online committee that includes Janet Keener, Dr. Alan Holmes and Brad Lifford.

The university will officially begin the centennial celebration with a convocation ceremony on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. in the ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center. The public is invited to the convocation ceremony.

ETSU’s centennial is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/etsu100years and will be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/etsu100years.

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