Members of the Shippensburg University Class of 1973 gathered outside Stewart Hall Saturday morning to celebrate the dedication ceremony for the newly installed SHIP letters.
The letters, which were installed in mid-May, served as a 50th-anniversary gift from the 485 members of SU’s 1973 alumni. Members of the class contributed $12,000 to the letters, which brings the class’ total donations over the last 51 years to $1,157,563.75, according to SU Foundation CEO Leslie Folmer Clinton.
“The SHIP letters that we’re here to dedicate represent an attraction, a centerpiece for students and visitors to capture celebratory moments to share and reshare thousands and thousands of times, greatly expanding the reach of the Ship brand,” SU President Charles Patterson said.
SU Council of Trustees Chair Doug Harbach described the letters as an “extraordinary gift that also serve as an “acrostic meaning of Ship.” S for students, H for happiness, I for independence and P for pride.
A group of sorority members, who reunited during Alumni Weekend, pose for a photo.
These letters will “become a part of the memories that students, staff, family and friends will remember when they visit this place we call Ship,” Harbach said.
The letters join other class gifts on the west side of campus, including decorated brick walls on Adams Drive and Prince Street, which were donated by the class of 1948 and 1959, and the recently completed Jeff Coy archway between Stewart Hall and Rowland Hall.
Bob Engle ‘73 was one of five members of the 1973 class who decided on what the class gift was going to be.
“I suppose there will be thousands of students who have their picture taken here,” Engle said. “This will serve as a wonderful marketing tool.”
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