Tarleton to observe Founder’s Week with multiple events on campus

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STEPHENVILLE (April 7, 2015) — Founder’s Week, honoring Tarleton founder John Tarleton, begins this week with a number of events from fun to solemn.

Major events this week include the annual May Fête Celebration hosted by the Tarleton Ambassadors on Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. near the Hunewell Bandstand in Heritage Oaks Park. The event was resurrected in recent years after May Fête disappeared near the time of World War II. Tarleton’s first May Fête was celebrated on May 5, 1921, and was typically held in conjunction with Parent’s Day or Founder’s Week.

Nearly 90 years following its original inception, the Tarleton Ambassadors revived this once forgotten tradition for Tarleton’s students in May 2009. The public and campus community are invited to join the fun at this time-honored event.

Student Chandler Snodgrass was specially selected to serve as Lord Tarleton and master of ceremonies for this year’s event and will lead the procession of wrapping the Maypole with brightly colored ribbons.

On Wednesday, the Student Government Association will host a Presidential Picnic on the university’s Dining Hall Patio from 5 to 8 p.m. During the picnic, Mr. and Ms. TSU will be announced at approximately 5:45.

Founder’s Week continues with the annual Silver Taps ceremony in Heritage Oaks Park and Col. Tate Military Park on Thursday, April 9. The event, hosted by Tarleton ROTC, Tarleton Ambassadors and the Tarleton Alumni Association, begins with a 7 p.m. reception at the Alumni Plaza followed by the Silver Taps ceremony at 7:30.

Silver Taps honors those faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university who passed away during the previous year. A roll call will be read aloud with students and family members carrying candles in a procession from the Hunewell Bandstand to the Tarleton Military Memorial where flowers are placed in memory of those who have died.

The university is hosting an Instagram contest surrounding Founder’s Week. Students are invited to take photos and post them on Instagram using #ThanksJohnT. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 10. For details on how to enter and prize information, visit http://www.tarleton.edu/marketing/instagram-contest.html.

For more information about all the events, visit http://www.tarleton.edu/foundersweek.