I love fall. The fallen leaves color the ground and make our campus even more beautiful. Another reason I love fall is because it means the start of a new concert season. In fact, the Bradley Symphony Orchestra performed its first concert of the season this past weekend at Dingeldine Music Center. Last month, I enjoyed listening to all of the beautiful music being performed in the Band Quad Concert held on the Olin Quad. I’m looking forward to hearing more music as our many talented musical individuals and groups perform on campus.

A.J. Rassi (left) and Jerry Flaherty proudly hold a replica of the sign that is displayed at Jerry’s Juice Bar.

The Markin Family Student Recreational Center’s juice bar underwent a change recently during a touching ceremony honoring one of Bradley’s own: Jerry Flaherty Jr. HON ‘01. The juice bar officially received its name, Jerry’s Juice Bar. A plaque near Jerry’s Juice Bar recognizes Jerry’s contributions.

A.J. ‘65 and Sonya Rassi, longtime friends of Jerry’s family and longtime supporters of Bradley, presented the naming gift to Bradley in honor of Jerry, who is one of A.J.’s heroes and someone who had interacted with our students for many years. I heard that A.J. described Jerry as “a great example of a joyful spirit with a great sense of humor — in spite of the challenges that life has given him.” A.J. told those attending the naming event that Jerry had a great deal of interaction with our students, and he was highly respected by them.

A well-loved member of the Bradley family, Jerry retired from Bradley’s Eurest Dining Services after 19 years of service. Before technology evolved his position, he was known around campus by students as the one who punched their meal cards. Technology eventually changed his job where he was the one who swiped the meal cards.

Next time you’re at the Markin Center, don’t forget to stop by Jerry’s Juice Bar.

Hearing Lewis Lehrman, author of Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point, speaking on campus today rekindled a lot of memories for me. About two years after my husband Tobias and I married in Vevay, Ind., we decided it was time to move. Tobias wanted to go to Kentucky because he thought there would be opportunities there. I, however, shared the sentiments of my father Zeally Moss, who had a great distaste for slavery. I wanted to move to a non-slave state. When my brother William, who was enjoying several successful ventures, encouraged us to move to Illinois, we decided to go. We moved here in the 1840s, and I was thrilled to learn that Abraham Lincoln was going to speak on the steps of the Peoria County courthouse on October 16, 1854.

Mr. Lehrman’s book spotlightsd the speech Lincoln gave that day. It was the first time Lincoln spoke out against the extension of slavery, a speech that helped resurrect his political career. Mr. Lehrman discussed Lincoln’s patriotism, saying Lincoln believed we should love our country not only because it is our country, but because it is a free country. He told the group of about 25 students, faculty-staff, and members of the community that Lincoln was fortified by the Declaration of Independence and believed America was the world’s last best hope.

It’s uplifting to know that I was a contemporary of Lincoln and that his feelings regarding slavery resonated with me like they did. To think that he was in Peoria 155 years ago today, making that speech gives me goosebumps!

This rendering of Lincoln delivering his speech in Peoria on October 16, 1854, is from the Peoria Historical Society Collection, Bradley University Library.

Abbie Alexander, left, owner of AAA Antiques, discusses a piece of jewelry with OLLI participant Liz Webster of Peoria. “Antique Jewelry” is among 51 classes retirees could choose from for the fall semester of OLLI.

There’s nothing like seeing people have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to exchange ideas. I love being in the center of campus for that very reason, as I watch young adults learn and grow, question and understand. But for four Wednesdays each semester, I enjoy listening in on some other classes on campus, too. Nearly 400 retirees come to campus those days to participate in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, known as OLLI. They can choose from 51 classes offered on a wide variety of topics and taught by Bradley administrators and professors, people from the community, and OLLI participants who volunteer to teach classes.

I can hardly wait to see what’s in store today. Last week, Interim Provost Bob Bolla discussed genetic engineering in his class, “Current Topics in Science,” while professor Karen Bartelt led a class on “Global Warming.” Michael Slaughter, a retired Illinois Central College English professor, was on hand, ready to teach his class, “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.” His class looks at contemporary fiction to examine what has happened to the emotion of love in today’s world, as people worry about terrorism, violence, and the breakdown of family values. People were admiring and learning about beautiful antique jewelry in a class taught by Abbie Alexander of AAA Antiques. I could hear beautiful music coming from the Student Center ballroom and found participants were viewing a video from the Merry Widow in an opera appreciation class.

In another section of the ballroom, silk artist Rena Huber of Tremont was on hand with a display of brightly colored scarves and framed panels. I even considered buying one to accent my dress! Each week, the work of a local artist is featured. These art appreciation displays are the brainchild of Carol Morissey, who was president of this group when it was called the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

I heard this year’s president, Joanne Haupt, discussing the new study groups offered this year. She explained they are different from the regular OLLI classes, in that those enrolled also take turns leading the sessions. She also mentioned that the number of educational bus trips has increased. These trips range from behind-the-scenes tours of local businesses and organizations, such as a recent trip to chef school at the Southside Mission, to day-long trips to museums and other points of interest in Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis.

It is such a thrill to see so many people eager to learn and grow. It just goes to show that whether you’re a young person preparing for your life’s work or a retiree interested in maintaining a vital, active life, Bradley University is the place to be!

Founder’s Day is my favorite day of the entire year. I am humbled that so many people gather to remember me, but what makes this my favorite day is seeing our University honoring so many distinguished alumni and faculty. As an added bonus, yesterday’s festivities included the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. I had a lump in my throat as I saw Kathy and Bob Clark ‘67 and Jerry ‘59 and Marilyn Keller Hayden ‘61 on the platform and listened to their speeches. I nodded in approval at the mention that their donations were not gifts, but rather investments in the future. That’s exactly how I felt when I founded Bradley Polytechnic Institute in 1897.

Besides the thrill of seeing Bradley continue to flourish as we begin construction on the Alumni Center, a tear came to my eye when President Joanne Glasser announced that the youngest person in attendance at the groundbreaking was none other than an 8-week-old baby girl named Lydia. Her parents, Brett ‘04 and Mandy Pierce Ellis ‘04 MA ‘07 of Dunlap, are dedicated volunteers at Bradley, and I am humbled that they chose to name their daughter after me. I was so touched to hear Mandy tell someone that after learning about my philanthropy and dedication to my family, she and Brett thought I would be a good role model for their Lydia to emulate. She even said little Lydia has a copy of Forgotten Angel, my biography written by Allen Upton, in her bookcase.

Everyone enjoys a love story, so I was curious how they met. It turns out they met during Welcome Week of their freshman year when they both attended the session, “How to Stock A Mini-Fridge.” They started dating a few weeks later and were married July 1, 2006. Lydia, who was decked out in her Bradley red for the groundbreaking ceremony, was born on August 4.