Campus Life

Oglethorpe Day line-up includes 30th Petrels of Fire, speaker Tina Fernandez, time capsule reveal

Oglethorpe Day annually celebrates the lasting legacy of our university’s namesake, General James Edward Oglethorpe. A philanthropist, social reformer, member of Parliament and military leader, Oglethorpe was regarded as one of Britain’s most active 18th century humanitarians.

Achieve Atlanta Executive Director Tina Fernandez will speak on Oglethorpe Day

As part of the annual Oglethorpe Day celebration, the university welcomes a guest speaker to address a related topic, following the Petrels of Fire race—this year celebrating 30 years!

Tina Fernandez, executive director of Achieve Atlanta, will be this year’s featured speaker.

Achieve Atlanta is a nonprofit working to dramatically increase the number of Atlanta Public Schools students who graduate college.The organization addresses the obstacles students face in completing post-secondary education by increasing college access; removing financial barriers for students; and supporting college persistence and completion. Oglethorpe is partnered with Achieve Atlanta to support their mission, and 10 Achieve Atlanta scholars currently attend Oglethorpe.

Prior to Achieve Atlanta, Fernandez was a partner at Bellwether Education Partners, a national nonprofit providing strategic, talent, and policy consulting to education organizations. Fernandez also served as a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, where she was twice named Clinical Professor of the Year, and was the founding Director of the school’s Pro Bono Program. Previously, Fernandez was Managing Director of Alumni Engagement & Infrastructure for Teach For America, and currently serves on TFA’s Atlanta regional board, as well as the Latin American Association of Georgia board of directors and the State of Georgia’s Education Reform Commission. Fernandez earned a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Following the presentation, witness the opening of Oglethorpe’s time capsule, also celebrating 30 years!

The decennial capsule was originally sealed on Oglethorpe Day 1990 in the former Emerson Student Center to increase awareness of the Crypt of Civilization’s legacy at Oglethorpe. Every 10 years, the time capsule is opened. Each decade, the Oglethorpe community has contributed various items of personal interest or items that are considered representative of the time. Once opened, the 2010 time capsule items will be on view, and the 2020 items will be sealed in the capsule—not to be opened until Oglethorpe Day 2030.

Interested in submitting an item for the capsule? Fill out a submission form on OUConnect. The deadline to submit is February 4, 12 am. This is your chance to contribute to Oglethorpe history!

Oglethorpe Day – February 12, 2020
Schedule of Events

12:45 p.m.
Enjoy refreshments and get ready to cheer on the runners
Academic Quad

1 p.m. sharp
Petrels of Fire Race
Academic Quad

1:15 p.m.
Oglethorpe Day Lecture
Speaker: Tina Fernandez, Executive Director, Achieve Atlanta
Conant Performing Arts Center

2 p.m.
Reception and Time Capsule opening (Attend for some fun swag!)
Turner Lynch Campus Center Atrium

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