Teresa Whitman-McCall with Auburn University's Office of Communications and Marketing, is co-chair of Auburn University's Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee. While speaking about the university's upcoming anniversary celebration, she offered several facts about AU, including:

• the name “ Auburn” came from an Oliver Goldsmith poem
• the school was founded on February 1, 1856, and began college classes in 1859.

Whitman-McCall outlined the Founder’s Week events that begin on Feb. 1 with the Founder’s Day Ceremony. On Feb. 4, there will be a birthday bash and city block party on the Samford Hall lawn and into Downtown Auburn. Events during the Saturday party will include a recitation of The Auburn Creed by eight specially selected "Creed readers" nominated to represent the Auburn Family. Additional activities include a campus historical walking tour (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), a Family Fun Zone (including kids games and inflatables), and bands (The Alabama Blues Brothers and the AU Marching Band). Toomer’s Corner will be blocked beginning at 2:30 p.m. for festivities, which conclude with fireworks at 5:30 p.m.

Whitman-McCall (center) pictured with Club President Debbie Shaw (left) and program host Ralph Foster (right)