275th Anniversary
Happy Birthday, Moravian University!
We mark this milestone in our school's history with a grand yearlong celebration of our heritage. Here are the highlights:
Heritage Day, September 21, 2016
Serving the community is a central tenet of Moravian tradition and hence of our college’s foundation. To honor our history and put in practice that tenet of service, we held our first Heritage Day on September 21. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Johnston Hall to learn about the history of the college, take part in the Moravian tradition of a Lovefeast (the sharing of food among members of a group to nurture goodwill and harmony), and then go out to serve the surrounding community. In the afternoon, we regrouped for a time of reflection. Heritage Day was indeed a celebration, and students, faculty, and staff can celebrate all that they accomplished. Take a look at some photos of the day:
Homecoming, October 14-15, 2016
Alumni and their families enjoyed a Welcome Back Block Party, participated in Habitat for Humanity builds, reconnected while raising funds during the Rocco Calvo Golf Outing, and took tailgating to a new level before the big game. Relive the memories below!
A Birthday Party for Benigna von Zinzendorf, December 7, 2016
What's a celebration without cake? We threw a party for our founder's birthday as part of Moravian University's 275th Anniversary celebrations.
Comenius's Birthday, March 28, 2017
Moravian University celebrated Comenius's birthday in a big way: with the 2nd Annual Day of Giving! Our goal was 850 donors—twice the age of Comenius himself—and we totally crushed our goal! Check out the video below for a peek inside this special day.
April 6, 2017: Benigna's Call for Education in 1742
Here's what Benigna herself circulated to the town:
We plan to make a frank and sincere proposal to all German parents living in the country who would like to see their children better cared for without any inconvenience to their household, on next April 6, 1742, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Let all fathers and mothers in all townships who are concerned for the welfare of their children please conform to this and report for this purpose at the appointed time and hour at Bechtel's or the potter Lehman's house, in Germantown. Whoever cannot come in person is to entrust someone else with his opinion.
The result of this community gathering was profound. On May 4, 1742, the 16-year-old countess, with 2 assistants, opened a girls’ school in the Ashmead house in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Here 25 pupils were instructed in reading, writing, religion, & the household arts in what was the first boarding school for girls in the 13 British American colonies. Seven weeks later the school moved to Bethlehem; and in 1745, to nearby Nazareth, returning permanently in 1749, to Bethlehem, the center of the Moravian Church in America. The school for boys started on July 19, 1742.
Benigna’s school, approved by the German-Moravian families, was a gift from the church to community and has evolved over the years into Moravian University and Moravian Academy (a K-12 private co-educational college preparatory school). With this heritage, Moravian University is the 6th oldest college in the country and the first to educate women and the first to educate native Americans in their own language.
Congressional Record: Moravian University Celebrates 275th Anniversary
Click above to read Representative Charlie Dent's Announcement in the Congressional Record.
275th Anniversary of Benigna Opening a School for Girls, May 4, 2017
A celebration marking the day, 275 years ago, that the girls’ school opened its doors and would evolve into Moravian University and Moravian Academy was held Thursday, May 4, 2017 @ 4:00 p.m. in the Pleasure Garden behind Bretheren’s House. Guests enjoyed a presentation by Carol Henn, Class of ‘68.