Silliman University Hibbard's Day Floral Offering 2024
Silliman University (SU) held its 9th Floral Offering Ceremony on August 9, 2024, in honor of Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard and Mrs. Laura Hibbard, the couple who founded Silliman Institute in 1901. The event, organized by the SU Elementary School of the College of Education, was a significant part of the annual Founders Day celebration and took place at the statue of Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard in front of Hibbard Hall.
Dr. Margaret Helen Udarbe-Alvarez, SU Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, led the ceremony alongside department heads, the dean, faculty, staff, students, student leaders, student organizations, and alumni. The floral offering underscored the University’s deep gratitude and appreciation for the Hibbards' unwavering dedication and profound impact in the fields of education and community service.
During the program, Dr. Gina Fontejon Bonior, Dean of the College of Education, shared a poignant quote from Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard. The quote, taken from a letter mentioned in Arthur L. Carson's history book, "Silliman University: 1901-1959," recounted the early days of Silliman Institute: “There were 15 boys that first morning. The equipment consisted of four desks about ten feet long, two tables, and two chairs, a few McGuffey’s Readers, a few geographies, arithmetic's, and ninth-grade grammars. I was President; Mrs. Hibbard was the faculty.”
The event also saw the presence of Atty. Pristine Martinez-Raymond , President of the Silliman Alumni Association, Inc. Dumaguete Chapter, and Prof. Penn T. Larena, along with past alumni board members. Ruben N. Bokingo, Director of the Alumni and External Affairs Office, was also in attendance.
Mr. Leo Dennis Mamipic, a former alumni board member, civic leader, and environmentalist, delivered a guest speech centered on the themes of service, love, and environmental stewardship.
The Floral Offering Ceremony, first held in 2015, was initially organized by the student organization known as the Laura Hibbard Society. Dean Bonior also acknowledged the efforts of Moses Joshua Atega, the adviser to international students at SU, for encouraging the SU Elementary School to institutionalize this ceremony as a yearly tradition, making it an integral part of the Founders Day celebration.
Happy 123rd Founder's Month
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| Alumni Board Prof. Penn T. Larena and Chapter Pres. Atty. Pristine Martinez -Raymond |
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