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Chico State celebrated its 120th birthday Friday with red and white cupcakes, the university pep band and John and Annie Bidwell.
The birthday party was the final event for Founder's Week, which recognized the anniversaries of the Associated Students, the George Petersen Rose Garden and the Alumni Association, among others.
Founder's Week celebrates Chico State's history and pride. The connection between the university, its alumni and the community are also celebrated, university President Paul Zingg said.
"We're pledging that the best days are still ahead of us," he said.
An annual celebration for the university is something Zingg wants to do every year because it's a chance for staff, students and alumni to celebrate the university's accomplishments. It's also a simple event to organize, Zingg said.
Junior Kiera Relyea said she didn't know a lot about Chico State's traditions, but she thought students should be part of events such as the birthday party.
Relyea had another motive for attending the celebration - she heard there would be cake.
Party guests were provided with a large display of 1,001 red and white cupcakes, red punch, and water.
Junior Jeannine Bourque said she liked the John and Annie Bidwell impersonators, who were asked to give speeches. An audience member asked if it was true that the Bidwells had separate bedrooms, and Annie Bidwell answered yes.
John and Annie Bidwell owned and lived in the Bidwell Mansion. John Bidwell donated eight acres from his cherry orchard for the property that has become Chico State.
Bourque said the celebration was a good opportunity for students to be aware of the university's history.
Chico State's pep band played before and after Zingg's speech. Len Whitegon, a recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award, led the band in the university fight song.
Whitegon received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Chico State, but he also attended Stanford University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UCLA, among others. His education at Chico State was as good as his education at other colleges, he said.
Daran Goodsell works on campus as the marketing coordinator for Chico Performances. She came to Chico State in 1977, took a break from school and returned to graduate in 1997.
Goodsell said that any time the university can bring the community out to enjoy an event like the birthday celebration, it creates a sense of belonging among those who attend.
Shannon Lawrence can be reached at slawrence@theorion.com
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