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Kickoff events of the 15-month semiquincentenary celebration brought together middle schoolers, community members, alumni, students, faculty and staff on campus. Read the story: “A celebration for the ages.” Watch the video below.

College Green Celebration

Guests filled the College Green for the Opening Celebration remarks, followed by the cutting of a giant cake shaped like Brown’s first building, University Hall.

Fireworks

Thousands of alumni, students, neighbors and friends gathered on campus to enjoy a stunning fireworks display by Pyrotecnico (watch the video).

Ogden and Keynote Lectures

The Opening Celebration featured:

  • Ogden Lecture by World Bank President and 1982 graduate Dr. Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD (watch the video)
  • Odgen Lecture by His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95 (watch the video)
  • Keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas J. Perez ’83 (watch the video)

Ogden and Keynote Lectures

Monday, March 10, 2014: Susan Adler Kaplan '68, MAT '65 during the opening remarks of the 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Friday, March 7, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and 87th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs, by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, M.D. ’82, President of the World Bank.

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Friday, March 7, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and 87th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs, by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, M.D. ’82, President of the World Bank.

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Friday, March 7, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and 87th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs, by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, M.D. ’82, President of the World Bank.

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Friday, March 7, 2014: President Christina Paxson in discussion with Dr. Jim Yong Kim, M.D. ’82, President of the World Bank, during the Opening Celebration Keynote Address and 87th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs.

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Friday, March 7, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and 87th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs, by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, M.D. ’82, President of the World Bank.

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Saturday, March 8, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and Watson Institute for International Studies Distinguished Speaker Thomas J. Perez, United States Secretary of Labor and 1983 graduate of Brown University

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Saturday, March 8, 2014: Opening Celebration Keynote Address and Watson Institute for International Studies Distinguished Speaker Thomas J. Perez, United States Secretary of Labor and 1983 graduate of Brown University

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Saturday, March 8, 2014: President Christina Paxson, Secretary Thomas Perez and Watson Institute Director Richard Locke.

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Monday, March 10, 2014: The 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Monday, March 10, 2014: The 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Monday, March 10, 2014: The 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Monday, March 10, 2014: The 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Monday, March 10, 2014: The 88th Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs Featuring His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV, P’95.

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Open Labs and Open Doors

Visitors to Brown enjoyed artwork, dancing, drumming; and open labs in biology, computer science, engineering, geology, medicine and other disciplines. Read the story: 250th birthday guests: ‘It’s been great!’.

President’s Colloquium

“The President’s Colloquium on the Virtues of Liberal Education”, hosted by President Christina Paxson, featured alumni, parents and faculty in four dynamic discussions. 

  • “Bridging the Great Divide: Politics, Polarization and Progress in 21st Century America” (watch the video)
  • “ABCs, Bits, Bytes and MP3s: Technology and Its Impact on a Liberal Education” (watch the video)
  • “Social Justice, Social Change: The Role of the Documentary” (watch the video)
  • “Disagreement and Dissent: The Role of Revolution in Shaping Our World” (watch the video)

Read the story: President’s Colloquium: The Virtues of Liberal Education.

Student Performances

More than 20 student groups took the stage at the Performance Showcase, highlighting the range of creative and artistic talent among Brown students. Other events included a comedy-drama rock musical at Sock & Buskin, men’s basketball versus Harvard, and the 250th Anniversary Wind Symphony Concert, featuring the world premiere performance of Patrick Zimmerli's “Brownian Motion” (watch the video). Read the story: Brownian Motion: A birthday song for Brown .

Day of Discovery

Hundreds of middle school students and their chaperones from across Rhode Island were the first guests to visit Brown for a Day of Discovery and Academic Exploration. The students started their day on College Hill with a welcome from President Christina Paxson, who noted that every person, including youngsters visiting Brown for the day, was making history. Read the story: A day of discovery on College Hill.

Scene by You

Scene by You at Brown: Enjoy the 250th Anniversary Opening Celebration from the perspective of the Brown community. Discover more #Brown250 social content.

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Meanwhile, media in many places marked the 250th anniversary of Brown’s founding.

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