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Southeast Missourian

SEMO kicks off 150th birthday celebration

Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian, Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian
Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Southeast Missouri State University kicked off its sesquicentennial inside the University Center on Wednesday, March 22. There were booths for students and alumni to see and learn about different parts of the college.

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    Southeast Missouri State University kicked off celebrations of its 150th birthday at a party on Wednesday, Mar. 22 in Cape Girardeau. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    A line formed for Auntie Anne's pretzel food truck. The first 500 attendees received a free pretzel with their choice of dipping sauce. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Students Isabella Schiaretti, Gwen Squires and Aubrey Anderson eat snow cones at the university's 150th birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO students dance to the band before the start of the celebration. The students had a high energy atmosphere through the celebration event. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO freshman Mia Hou and Moly Rensing take a selfie with Dr. Vargas. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Members of the band played to start off the celebration. The band has been around since the founding of SEMO in 1873. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO Sundancers and Cheerleaders stand around SEMO's birthday cake. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO president Carlos Vargas gives a speech about SEMO and the way it has changed the lives of  over 90,000 graduates in the last 150 years. Vargas is the 18th president of the college. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO cheerleaders sing the school's alma mater song after the speech by President Carlos Vargas kicking off the 150 birthday celebration. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    President Carlos Vargas, Board of Governors president Tina Klocke and SEMO student body president Joel Philpott pose for a photo together after each of them gave a speech to kick off the celebration. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO students use confetti cannons to add to the festive energy of the day. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO students smile big during the celebration. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Natalie Williams, left, Lexi Fields, Lane Freeborn and Gage Moore sing and dance together at the SEMO sesquicentennial celebration. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Students Lexi Fields, Lane Freeborn and Gage Moore dance with university president Dr. Vargas on Wednesday, Mar. 22 at the SEMO quincentennial celebration. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Maya Rice and Rachelle Cox autograph a birthday sign before "Board & Brush" owner, right, Brittney Swiuonis. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO juniors Carly Williams and Haley Lincoln hold puppies at the university's 150th birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Brianna Payton, Kalei Layton and Brooklyn Armstead sit together at the 150th birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    SEMO alum Alix Gasser, Brian Heisserer, Sandra Campbell and Ally Campbell (clockwise from top left) pose for a photo at the 150th birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Merika Thapa Magar poses for a photo with SEMO president, Dr. Vargas. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Megan Casasola signs a giant birthday card. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    President Vargas poses with students at the birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    The Sigma Chi fraternity made cotton candy for students and alumni to enjoy while walking around the booths in the University Center. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Sandra Campbell and Ally Campbell together. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    The gum tree tradition started at SEMO in 1967 due to chewing gum being prohibited in some classes.  Many SEMO students who have to climb Cardiac Hill heading to class place there chewing gum on the tree. As of 2019, there have been three gum trees. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    President Carlos Vargas "rides" a bike to blend a smoothie. (Alyssa Lunsford ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Lakshmi Bhavana Nerella, Gayatri Sravani Immaaisetty and Pranathj Tunuguntla pose with a SEMO sign at the university's 150th birthday party. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Maria Halangi Sango and Colette Tumao Chikuru pose together in front of red and black wings. (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    (Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian)