In 1964, a unique and extraordinary selection of Ohio University students was brought together by a group of visionary leaders to form what became known as the Ohio Fellows Program. They were seen by the founders, who included former O.U. president Vernon Alden, as the next innovative leaders of their generation. Into the next decade, students with similar talents were brought together in the Fellows program.

Terry Moore, an Ohio Fellow who also ran the program throughout his senior year in the late 1960s, explains,

"The point of the Ohio Fellows Program was to nurture the talent for leadership that the directors recognized in certain students. But the founders understood that you can't teach a student to be a leader simply by making him follow a course of someone else's ideas, no matter how good those ideas may be."

This year, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the library that bears the name of one of their mentors, the Ohio Fellows will reunite on Ohio University’s Athens campus September 17-19, 2009.

A featured activity will be the Leadership Symposium that will focus on leadership in the 21st century and will include participation from current campus scholars and leadership groups. Featured speakers will include two O.U. alumni, Chuck Underwood and Jason Weaver.

Underwood is the founder and president of The Generational Imperative, Inc., a company that specializes in researching and implementing generational business strategies in the workplace and the marketplace. For more information on TGI, Inc. or Chuck Underwood, visit www.genimperative.com.

Weaver is the founder and CEO of Sway, Inc. and Shoutlet. Sway, Inc. is well-known in the social media world for assisting businesses in creating marketing campaigns that utilize social media tools including his own Shoutlet product. For more information on Sway, Inc. visit www.swayonline.com or Shoutlet, visit www.shoutlet.com.

Other special events for the weekend reunion will include the rededication of Albatross and the opening reception for the Yao Collection of Ceremonial Artifacts.

Most Bobcats will recognize the Albatross as the sculpture that welcomes visitors at the Park Place entrance of Alden Library. The Albatross was originally presented to celebrate the opening of Alden Library by the Fellows in 1969. Sculptur and Ohio Fellow Michael McConnell, will be on hand along with other Fellows to re-dedicate his original work.

Other events planned for the celebration weekend include the opening reception for the Yao Collection of Ceremonial Artifacts.

The Yao Collection is considered the largest collection of Daoist ceremonial artifacts in the United States and will be on display in the Frederick and Kazuko Harris Fine Arts Library within Alden Library. The reception is being held from 3:30-5:00p.m. on September 19.

For more information about other 40th Anniversary special events coming this fall including the “Passport to Hidden Treasures,” click here.