Former students and founding faculty and staff, including the first president of the University of North Florida, returned to campus Oct. 2 to begin a weeklong celebration of the university's 30th anniversary.
     Dr. Thomas Carpenter, who was named UNF's first president July 1969, was the featured speaker at a ceremony on the Green marking the 30th anniversary of the beginning of classes at UNF.
     "Amazingly, we were given a free hand [starting the university]," Carpenter said. "We had no blueprint. We were told that we have found you some property out there. Go find some people to hire. Develop some programs and go at it."
     Carpenter said creating a university required having a high-quality faculty.
     "It was a dedicated crew," Carpenter said. "They worked hard. It took a young crew to stand up to the trying times that we enjoyed."
     Carpenter said he never envisioned the university would grow to its current magnitude.
     "It has grown faster than I thought it would," Carpenter said. "It speaks highly of the faculty, I give most credit to the people because it [the growth] mostly happened

Dr. Thomas Carpenter

in the last 22 years. It's hard to believe that it has been 30 years since the first student came [to UNF]."
     Carpenter said one of the highest priorities in the early years was to build relationships with the surrounding community.
     "The state leaders were wonderful to us," Carpenter said. "The civil and business leaders were on our side. You couldn't ask for a better environment for getting a school off the ground."
     Carpenter also said he has watched the university closely over the years.
     "I watched [the university] with great interest," Carpenter said. "[It was] like watching a child mature and succeed. Coming back today has reinforced that pride because every time I come here, things seem to be better and better."
     Dr. David Kline, interim UNF president, and Dr. Adam Herbert, UNF president 1989 to 1998, attended the ceremony.
     Kline said he enjoyed hearing Carpenter speak.
     "I was really moved," Kline said. "His speech helped me understand UNF better."
     Herbert said the anniversary and the ceremony were milestones in the history of the university.
     "It [the ceremony] was particularly significant that the founding president was here to kick off the celebration of the past three decades," Herbert said.
     The UNF chorus group, led by Dr. Merrill Palmer, sang "Simple Gifts," and the UNF alma mater in honor of the anniversary celebration.
     Richard Mack, student body vice president, and T. O'Neal Douglas, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, also spoke at the ceremony.
     "I know that I can speak for more than myself to say that we are happy to be here and a part of the UNF family," Mack said. "We are truly honored to be here today on this 30th anniversary of the University of North Florida."
     Douglas spoke on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
     "We [the Board of Trustees] commit to you that not only do we intend to continue to grow numerically, but also to continue to grow academically," Douglas said.
     Herbert said he was looking forward to the future of UNF.
     "I think the next decade will be even more exciting for the university as it continues to grow in quality and students," Herbert said.

News Editor Faith Kimball can be reached at spinnakernews@yahoo.com.