The Missouri Western State University Alumni Association will unveil a plaque commemorating the university’s founding as St. Joseph Junior College nearly 100 years ago during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 20 at University Plaza, site of the large bronze Griffon sculpture just west of the Blum Student Union. The unveiling ceremony precedes the annual Junior College Reunion, which will begin at 12:30 in the Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216.

The pedestal plaque was donated by Bill ’56 and Phyllis Gondring to commemorate St. Joseph Junior College, which opened in 1915 with 35 students and eight faculty members. The school later became Missouri Western Junior College, then Missouri Western College, followed by Missouri Western State College and finally Missouri Western State University.

The plaque is similar to one that was placed in 2009 on the building at 10th and Edmond Streets that housed the junior college from 1933 to 1969.

A reception will follow the unveiling ceremony, then the luncheon for Junior College alumni beginning at 12:30. The class of 1962 will be recognized and inducted into the Golden Griffon Alumni Society.

For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 816-271-5646.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.