The little pieces of the past that bind Blackburn College together make it very special, but not everyone knows the whole story.
The Jaenke Alumni Center actually used to be the main building on campus for visitors and students alike. It served a similar role played by the Demuzio Campus Center (DCC) today. Before DCC was constructed in 2002, the Jaenke Alumni Center was commonly referred to as “The Den.” However, once DCC was built, “The Den” fell into disuse.
Due to generous donations by alumni, the center got the renovations it deserved and was fully refurbished by last year’s homecoming.
Now the campus community can view the newly updated historical exhibits. On the walls of the Alumni Center hang long posters with photos from the past and the stories behind them. However, the posters currently on the walls are not permanent and will be updated to more accurately reflect Blackburn College’s diverse history. According to Alumni Relations Coordinator Stephen Yearson, many students have not yet been in the building to observe these historical displays. He wishes to get the word of welcome out to not only the student body but all guests. Yearson believes the experience would be an enriching opportunity for anyone who would be interested in stopping by and seeing the fascinating history of Blackburn.
The Alumni Center has an open house event the first Wednesday of every month where any visitors are welcome. Yearson recommends attending to meet other people.“The main point of it is to let people know that this is an open space for them to use,” he said. Food and drinks will be provided each meeting. It would be an opportunity to get to know more people around the area, all while appreciating the hard-working history of Blackburn College.