Friday, August 30, 2019
10:00 AM at Mars Hill University, Broyhill Chapel
Invocation… Kevin Barnette, Associate Pastor, Brookstone Church
Music… Mars Hill University Gospel Choir
Welcome & Introductions… Willa Wyatt, Chair, Friends of the MHARS
Remarks
– Jennifer Cathey, State Historic Preservation Office & NCDNCR, Western Office
– Dr. Will Hoffman, Superintendent, Madison County Public Schools
Alumni & Friends – “Our Story, This Place”
Kevin Barnette; Oralene Simmons; Charity Ray
Welcome… Sarah Hart; Fatimah Shabazz; Omar McClain; Lauren Rayburn
Ribbon Cutting
11:00 AM at The Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School
225 Mount Olive Drive, Mars Hill, NC 28754
Dedication Prayer… Rev. Tommy Justus, Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church
Tour of School
– Platform Room: Oralene Simmons
– Historic Room: Fatimah’Shabazz
– New Addition: Omar McClain
Overview of Madison County Education… David Wyatt
Overview of Long Ridge Community… Richard Dillingham
Overview of School Building & Grounds… Dan Slagle
Celebratory Luncheon
12:30 PM at MHU Pittman Dinning Hall
Blessing… Rev. Tommy Justus Welcome & Introductions: Willa Wyatt
MHU Welcome… Tony Floyd, President
MHU Collaboration Remarks… Dr. Dan Lunsford, President Emeritus
Rehabilitation Beginning… Stewart Coates, Former Madison BOE Chair
Historic Preservation… Margaret Newbold, NC Conservation Trust
National Trust Grant… Lauren Rayburn
School Rehabilitation… Dan Slagle & JAS
Contributors’ Recognition… David Wyatt
Thank You… Willa Wyatt & A.D. Reed
In Memoriam to our Friends of the Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School
Dorothy Ray Coone, Pauline Binkley Cheek, Phillip Michael Ervin
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Our Story, This Place
3:00-6:30 PM at the Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School
Alumni Program… “Preserving Our Past That Shaped Our Future”
Blessing… Bishop William Ray
Welcome… Fatimah’R. Shabazz
Cutting of the Ribbon… Fatimah’ Shabazz; Dr. Will Hoffman; Willa Wyatt
Ringing of the Original School Bell… Oralene Simmons
The Long Ridge Community
Reading of Poem “Back Home” – Patty McDowell Ray
“It Began on the Ridge” – Sarah Roland Weston Hart
Our Story, This Place “Tributes” – Oralene Simmons
Window Dedication… Willa Wyatt & Window Project Participants
Open Mic
– Alumni and Family Members
– Friends of the Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School & Supporters
Musical Entertainment… Weston Brothers
Closing Prayer… Bishop William Ray
Social Hour… Musical Entertainment by WRNU
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Open House
1:00-5:00 PM at the Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School
225 Mount Olive Drive, Mars Hill, NC 28754