- Colorado College

President Celeste, all of my classmates, other alumni, distinguished professors and Colorado College friends: Good afternoon and a warm welcome. On behalf of the Class of ‘54, we are both happy and surprised to become the newest members of the 50-year club. We are happy because we are here, and surprised because the 50 years since our graduation has vanished. It almost seems like yesterday that we received our diplomas here.

Many thanks to the Tom Freund, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and the entire Committee in setting up and planning this weekend. I am honored to speak today for the Class of 54’ on this special occasion of our induction into the 50-year club.

In thinking about this weekend, I would guess we may have come here for a number of reasons: To see old friends, to satisfy our curiosity about how the people and places of our youth have changed over half a century, and to recapture the unique sense of our early days. I think many of us can hardly walk from Slocum to Palmer Hall without vivid memories of our college lives and friends, and again not to forget those that aren’t with us. But the important thing is that as new members of the 50-year club, we actually can walk from Slocum to Palmer Hall. In any event, it is wonderful to see all of you.

Conventional wisdom says that these are our golden years. That we should start enjoying life. We started that process of enjoying life long ago together – maybe our forays to Austin Bluffs, Woodland Park, and the 1953 Winter Carnival at Cripple Creek. There were more.

Our life’s work, however, is not done, notwithstanding the fact that we graduated fifty years ago. Since then we were married, had children, put them through college, financed marriages, enjoy grandchildren, and in many cases, are now retired. We don't feel 70 by any means; most of us feel a lot younger. I’m in the retirement business. If you are retired, stay busy, do something, you know it’s healthful.

Fifty years are just a few days in the life of a university, because universities change very slowly.

Therefore, it is not unrealistic to start wondering about what changes will occur over the next 50 years. In years ahead, the global community will dictate many changes at Colorado College.

As a Trustee of the College, I have had a chance to be here often and, more recently, to think about the next 50 years at Colorado College. And I can report to you that your "alma mater" is doing great and on the right road for the next half century. The students are brighter, maybe smarter, and I believe the professors (at least those I've visited with), although more liberal than I'd like, are dedicated and seem to enjoy what they are doing. Good professors are hard to find. We have many great ones.

In 1954, our class was comprised of 125 students: 60% male, 40% female. Our whole college totaled 1,100 students.

Today we have approximately 475 seniors, over 550 freshman and 2,000 students: 46% male, 54% female. Now, about 50% of our graduates go to graduate or professional schools. Fifty percent of students have a 1200 to 1350 S.A.T. score. I believe S.A.T. scores are important. I believe we need to recruit national merit scholars, valedictorians and the best students we can find. Our first priority is to keep Colorado College recognized as a top academic institution.

Everyone will agree with this. But . . . there’s another issue here to consider. Some admission directors realize it, some don’t. Mark Hatch, our admission director, and the people responsible for raising money for the college do also.

And that is, we do save seats for some well-rounded “C” students in the lower half of their class, with maybe a marginal S.A.T. score.

The private and independent status of this institution is certainly one of its assets, though it comes with the burden of individual responsibility on all of us.

To drive home my point . . . Y.P.O. organization did a study last year and found that the highest net worth of their members worldwide was centered on their members with lower grade point averages. Interesting statistics??

All of us help the College as much as we can, but as that window opens up 30, 40, 50 years after graduation, the capital campaign people need all the help they can get.

That help begins many years earlier when achievements other than grades are considered for admission. A student’s ability to pay, and the level of the family’s financial status should be one of the considerations for a few seats. The Internet provides a wealth of information for admission decisions today.

There were times when this approach was not followed. There were times it was. That’s why the admission director’s job is very important. We have a program to track this today.

It certainly is easy for an admissions director to say 50 years from now I won’t be here. The faculty applies pressure to increase the admission requirements, which is understandable.

Just a little advance planning might provide a little more financial help to the College as the years unfold.

Important structures built here at Colorado College over the last 30 years are:

Olin Hall, built in 1961, was built as a new science building. Today it houses labs and faculty offices.

Barnes, built in 1989, houses faculty offices, biology and other science classrooms, and greenhouse labs.

Tutt Science Center, built in 2003, houses environmental science programs, psychology, neoscience and math.

Packard Hall of Music and Arts, built in 1976, houses music and visual arts.

Palmer Rehab, completed just last year, houses political science, history, geology, business and economic departments.

You may have an interest to know that where we are today, Shove Chapel, donated by Eugene Shove, was built in 1931 for $325,000. The bells came from London and there’s a story behind each stained glass window here.

Palmer Hall was built in 1903 at a cost of $285,000. It was built where it is to prevent the streetcar tracks continuing through the campus on Tejon.

As we embark on the next 50 years, our College has a portfolio of many assets. Location is one; people were coming to the Pikes Peak area before 1950. They are coming in even greater numbers today as the business climate, education and natural resources of the state of Colorado have resulted in the state having a cachet not found elsewhere in the west.

The unique programs created by the College are another important asset. When the college is written about, inevitably the intensity and flexibility of our Block Program is what is mentioned. This program, started in 1970, and has been very successful.

Our hockey program has always been, and I believe, always will be, an asset. I think OUR hockey program contributed a lot to Colorado College's "Brand Name". The hockey schedule over the last 50 years included Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Michigan, B.C. and others who would come play and stay at the Broadmoor. What an experience for these kids. They know our name. For years our hockey players have always preformed well academically. I know many of them in a 10-year window of my era, and almost all of them have done well.

Today, one of our most significant assets is our new President, Dick Celeste. This guy is an achiever. Two-term Governor of Ohio, Head of Peace Corps, Rhodes Scholar, Ambassador to India under President Clinton. Most important is his energy. Dick makes things happen. Peter Drucker said that: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” I am here to tell you that Dick Celeste is doing the right things. We are lucky to have him, and that's not all. His lovely wife, Jacqueline, is very active in college life, helping wherever she can.

Let me take a moment to read you our new Mission Statement:

At Colorado College our goal is to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country. Drawing upon the adventurous spirit of the Rocky Mountain West, we challenge students, one course at a time, to develop those habits of intellect and imagination that will prepare them for learning and leadership throughout their lives.

This statement highlights President Celeste's program to take Colorado College to a new level. Some of our plans include a performing arts center, new library, new sports center, and there will be an effort to improve our football program. I believe that any new bricks and mortar will be helpful in moving to a new level, as well as continuing to help recruit top-flight administrators, professors, top students and also, just as important, a few not so talented students.

As we enter this new period in history, the college is well positioned and ready for the challenge.

Vince Lombardi once said “We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." On this our 50th homecoming, as we appreciate our past glories and look to the future, we must resolve that Colorado College will not run out of time.

By Edward Robson '54