The Shepherd University Ram Band performs, during the Founder’s Day celebration at Potomac Place on Friday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Over the weekend, Shepherd University celebrated its founding with a series of events, starting with a Founder’s Day Parade on Friday afternoon and ending with a Homecoming football game against Millersville University on Saturday afternoon.

“We gather together every year during Homecoming week, to reflect on the foundation and the growth of Shepherd University,” said Founder’s Day commemoration ceremony emcee Rachel Meads, who serves as the Shepherd University Assistant Director of Student Engagement. “Our earliest beginnings were under professor Joseph McMurran in 1871. Since then, the dedication of our faculty and our staff have helped in advancing Shepherd to become a regionally recognized, premiere public university grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, with strong professional programs.”

Student Government Association President Paul Teter remarked on the value of a Shepherd University education.

“If there are three words to summarize our university, it would be that ‘Shepherd students succeed,'” Teter said. “Shepherd University really is the place to be for the next generation of students. We have some of the best and most personalized academic programs in the state and District of Columbia metropolitan area, from nursing to accounting, from history to theater and from education to Appalachian Studies. There’s no better place for higher education than Shepherd University!”

Two testaments to Shepherd University’s excellent education were honored during the ceremony as the 2024 Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Pattie (’73) and Paul (’74) Wilmoth. The couple reflected on how their education at Shepherd shaped the lives of themselves and, in the case of Paul, their football teammates.

From left to right, Shepherd University President Mary Hendrix stands beside 2024 Outstanding Alumni of the Year Pattie and Paul Wilmoth and Student Government Association President Paul Teter, as they sing the Shepherd University Alma Mater together at the Founder’s Day commemoration ceremony on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

“Our team was not blessed with a lot of talented athletes. Coach Walter Barr instilled in us the idea that you always have more to give and that, if you committed everything to the team, committed everything in practice and committed everything to the game, you would be a winner. This commitment helped us win the conference championship in 1972,” Paul said. “I think that commitment and dedication allowed our team to win much more than a conference championship. Every player on that team has become successful in life, because of their time spent at Shepherd. This team at Shepherd produced a heart surgeon, Black Hawk helicopter pilot, printing industry entrepreneur, federal government employees, coaches, principals, teachers, athletic directors and trainers and even a custom home builder.”

With that final reference to Paul’s own successful career, Pattie then took the microphone and echoed the words of Teter, speaking from her own experience.

“Shepherd students do succeed,” Pattie, who taught for 25 years in Jefferson County Schools, said. “We managed to survive and not only did we manage to survive, but we managed to thrive.”

For Shepherd University President Mary Hendrix, the weekend was an opportunity to celebrate the success of students past, present and future. It was also a platform to share a number of exciting developments for the university.

“I’m honored to share a number of present day highlights . . . that set the stage for the future,” Hendrix said. “This fall, we are celebrating a 10 percent increase in transfer students, in addition to our largest ever duel enrollment class and a 29 percent increase in the Regent’s Bachelor of Arts Program. The Social Work Program and the Masterworks Chorale are marking 50 years of success this autumn. Also, the Rude Mechanicals Medieval & Renaissance Players celebrate 25 years of success!”

The Tri Sigma sorority marches down King Street, as part of the Founder’s Day Parade on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

The Shepherd University Ram mascot greets passersby, during the Founder’s Day Parade down King Street Friday. Tabitha Johnston

Founder’s Day commemoration ceremony emcee Rachel Meads welcomes the crowd of community members and Shepherd University students, faculty, staff and alumni at Potomac Place on Friday. Tabitha Johnston