Founders Week events rescheduled for Feb. 12

Mississippi College continues to celebrate its once-in-a-lifetime milestone—its 200th anniversary—with a full year of special events and meaningful moments throughout 2026.

The University has rescheduled the previously postponed Founders Week activities for Thursday, Feb. 12, to include the 200th Birthday Party on campus, the official ribbon cutting for “1826: The Exhibition,” and the preview of a new Bicentennial Time Capsule.

A new event has also been added for Feb. 12 – a recognition of Provine Chapel’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places and the recreation of a 1914 MC photograph in front of Provine Chapel.

Event details for Thursday, Feb. 12, are below. All MC students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and community members are invited to participate.

Provine Chapel Recognition and Photo Recreation

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1:30 p.m.

Location: Provine Chapel

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are invited to gather outside of historic Provine Chapel to recognize Provine Chapel’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places and recreate a 1914 photograph in front of the Chapel. The Choctaw Marching Band will lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to kick off the birthday party festivities.

Bicentennial Birthday Party

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2-4 p.m.

Location: Piazza and Jennings Hall Courtyard

Students on the Campus Programming Board and MC’s Office of Student Engagement will host a bicentennial birthday party for the University and community, complete with cake, food and drink vendors, and activities.

Bicentennial Exhibition Ribbon-Cutting and Time Capsule Reveal

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2:30 p.m.

Location: 1826 and Jennings Hall

See “1826 The Exhibition,” which highlights the University’s rich history in a spectacular display created by the Institute for Southern Storytelling at MC. After touring the exhibition, see the new Bicentennial Time Capsule on display in one of the campus’s historic buildings, Jennings Hall.

NOTE: The exhibition will be open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 12.

Following the birthday party, MC will host several evening events on Feb. 12, including:

Evangelism Lecture

Thursday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m.

Location: Provine Chapel

Sponsored by MC’s Department of Christian Studies, the annual Evangelism Lecture series brings outstanding speakers to MC who share fresh ideas and interesting topics. The 2026 guest speaker is Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board. The event is free and open to the public.

MC Basketball vs. West Florida

Thursday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.

Location: A.E. Wood Coliseum

MC women’s (5:30) and men’s (7:30) basketball teams take on West Florida in Gulf South Conference matchups at home in A.E. Wood Coliseum. Admission is free for MC students, faculty and staff.

Success Starts at Mississippi College

Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m. Meet and Greet, 7 p.m. Alumni Panel

Location: Entergy Theater, Gore Arts Complex

The African American Studies program at MC presents “Success Starts at Mississippi College: Chronicles of MC's African American Contributions to 200 Years of Celebration,” featuring MC alumni panelists Larry Myricks ’79, Maggie Wade ’20, Regina Schofield ’83, Camryn Johnson ’22, and Aaron Feazelle ’20, and moderated by Ellis Liddell ’80, co-chair of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee. The event is free and open to the public.

We invite you to be part of the events on Feb. 12 as well as our yearlong celebration as we honor the past and look ahead with gratitude and hope.

Additional art exhibits, academic lectures and commemorative events will continue throughout the year. To stay up to date on bicentennial events and activities, visit 200.mc.edu/events.