TOPEKA – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and First Lady Mary Brownback unveiled Monday the official Kansas ornament to be hung on the state’s tree for the 2012 National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C. It will feature the Washburn University sesquicentennial celebration on the front and the Great Seal of the State of Kansas on the back. WU President Dr. Jerry Farley and members of the WU Sesquicentennial Committee joined the Governor and First Lady for the unveiling during a news conference at Cedar Crest.
“For more than 30 years, State of Kansas ornaments have recognized something truly Kansas. We are honored to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Washburn University on the 2012 ornament,” First Lady Brownback said. “I want to thank the Washburn sesquicentennial committee for its work on designing this beautiful ornament.”
Washburn was founded as Lincoln College, a private Congregational school, on Feb. 6, 1865 in Topeka, Kan., on the principle that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or income, have the right to seek an education. In 1868, Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, Mass., pledged $25,000 to the fledgling college. Shortly thereafter, the one-building institution was renamed Washburn College to honor this benefactor.
Located on a 160-acre campus, Washburn today has approximately 7,200 students and offers more than 200 academic programs leading to certification, associate, bachelor, master’s, doctor of nursing practice and juris doctor degrees. An affiliate of the university, Washburn Institute of Technology, provides high school and adult students significant opportunities to develop skills and knowledge relevant to contemporary career fields, such as health occupations, computer repair and networking and a variety of technology disciplines including building and industrial, business, design, electronic, graphics, metal and mechanical.
“We are very proud to have Washburn University featured on the official Kansas ornament in recognition of our upcoming sesquicentennial in 2015,” Dr. Farley said. “It is an honor to have the Ichabod be part of the holiday spirit on the National Christmas Tree.”
The tradition of the National Christmas Tree began on Christmas Eve in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit a tree for 3,000 spectators on the ellipse in President’s Park. Official state ornaments for the state trees began in 1981. More than 20,000 are expected to attend the nationally televised lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 6th.
Also on the Kansas tree will be hand woven wheat ornaments made by students at Quincy Elementary School in Topeka.
The official ornaments are on sale at the Kansas Historical Society Gift Shop, the Ichabod Shop, the Mulvane Art Museum Gift Shop and the Rally House/Kansas Sampler or online at washburnbookstore.com for suggested retail of $24.00.