The lobby of TC’s Zankel Hall tends to be crowded at five o’clock on Thursday evenings, but the scene yesterday was on a different order of magnitude. This was no mere crush of students heading for evening class. Teachers College was kicking off the year-long celebration of its 125^th birthday, and there was a party going on – and on, and on. In fact, when the official bash, billed as “The Happy Three Hours,” concluded at around 8:00 pm, the die-hards adjourned to the cafeteria for more.

Organized by the College’s Office of Special Events, the festivities were highlighted by a lights-out singing of Happy Birthday (a song that had its beginnings at TC), led by singer Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek  and trumpeter Tim Beadle, both students in the Music and Music Education program; the presentation of a giant sheet cake; high-class eats (including duck, fresh vegetables and a wine bar) underwritten by Culinart Inc.; a jazz trio led by saxophonist Gian Tornatore, also of the Music and Music Ed program; and still more live music in Everett Lounge, courtesy of Music and Music Ed students Nate Olson and Anne-Marie Hildebrandt Nelson.

And those were just the basics. Other activities and highlights included:

• An Insta-glam photo booth, operated by TC’s Office of Alumni Relations, where participants could pose for photos with TC and 125^th anniversary props (gold hats, mustaches, etc.) for uploading to their Facebook sites and other social media
• Another photo booth, run by the Student Senate and the Office of Student Activities and Programs, where participants could also write in a scrapbook that is going to be included in a TC time capsule
• A giant mural of the New York City skyline, made with textiles and paper courtesy of students at the Teachers College Community School
• A booth run by the Department of Capital Projects that offered passersby the opportunity to take a quick TC “historic buildings” challenge
• A booth, operated by the Department of External Affairs, where people could share their memories of TC. Add your story here.
  
• A display of lendable banners, created by the Office of Special Events, appropriate for 125^th-relevant happenings sponsored by different academic departments
• The opportunity to participate in recording of a special mash-up version of “Happy Birthday, Teachers College” in the audiovisual studio on the second floor of Macy Hall
• A table where community members could make contributions to the TC Fund ($1.25 was the going rate for students, but one Alumni Council member wrote a check for $500!
• And, of course, glow sticks and necklaces, all in TC blue, provided by the Office of Facilities Management

Keep checking our website tc.edu/125 for upcoming 125^th anniversary events.

Published Friday, Feb. 1, 2013