From Oct. 12-15, 2017, EMU celebrated its centennial anniversary. The campus was a gathering place for students, parents, alumni, and the community. EMU celebrated with music, food, and theater, giving the chance for students past and present to connect. The main highlights included the concert by The Steel Wheels concert, the original play “What we bring. What we take. What we leave.” by alumni Ted Swartz ’89 and Ingrid DeSanctis ’88, and a book signing of “Eastern Mennonite University: A Century of Countercultural Education” by Donald Kraybill ’67.

The Centennial Committee, along with the Homecoming and Family Weekend Committee, had planned the weekend for several years. The weekend combined the usual Homecoming and Fall Festival activities with the Centennial Celebration.

“The response [was] overwhelming,” said Jeff Shank, director of Alumni and Parent Engagement. “We have almost three times the registrants this year than we had last time.”

The Steel Wheels, an Americana folk band, have EMU ties, with three of the four members being alumni. The band played Saturday on the front lawn. Shank expected a large turnout. “We have sold over 1,200 tickets already,” he said. “I think that is going to be the event that feels most like a celebration.”

“What we bring. What we take. What we leave.” ran on Friday and Saturday. Schwartz and De Sanctis wrote this play specifically for the Centennial Celebration.

Other events included a chapel ceremony, a bike ride, an art show opening in Common Grounds, a BSU dance, and a Color Run. The weekend was a celebration of EMU’s past, present, and future, and was full of food, music, and fellowship.