Saint Mary History Video Transcript
00:00:01:20 - 00:03:10:04
Voiceover: On November 11th, 1858, a group of pioneer sisters arrived in Kansas Territory. Setting into motion a legacy of education, health care and service. Just a few months later, the sisters of Charity of Leavenworth opened Saint Mary Academy, leading the way for Saint Mary College to follow in 1923.
One hundred years later, Saint Mary remains rooted in the vision and values of its founders. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth established a college built on educating the whole person. They inspired a commitment to the gospel and encouraged generations of students to value justice. They paved the way for thousands of students to earn an affordable, values centered education.
In its early years, Saint Mary defined itself as a Catholic college, a college for women. A college based on Christian values. Along the way, the institution established a reputation for academic excellence.
Saint Mary College continued to grow in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, bringing in record enrollments, expanding programs, and constructing new facilities. In 1988, the college responded to the needs of the times and became a fully co-educational. With this significant change, academic and extracurricular opportunities multiplied. Service to others and friendship remained critical elements of the student experience.
A new millennium brought many changes to the institution, including adopting the University of Saint Mary status in 2003. Over the next 20 years, athletic programs expanded rapidly and health care education became an important strategic focus. Within a century, majors have come and gone. Buildings have been constructed and then renovated for modern purposes. But with each change, the Saint Mary mission has remained the same.
Today we honor this heritage, we remember the groundbreaking founders, students, alumni, and faculty of the past century. We celebrate 100 years of students realizing their God given potential and bettering their diverse world. Saint Mary remains committed to providing access to an excellent education. A bright future is on the horizon, a future where Saint Mary continues educating with a deeper purpose.