A mid-October shower failed to dampen the spirits for those gathered Tuesday to celebrate Claremont Graduate University’s 100^th birthday outside Harper Hall, the school’s founding building.

“Claremont Graduate University was founded in 1925 on this day, exactly 37 years after the founding of Pomona College,” said CGU Interim President Michelle Bligh. “That was the vision of James Blaisdell, who created what was then called the ‘group plan,’ which founded the community of scholars and academic excellence of the seven colleges that we now see here today in lovely Claremont, California.”

(L-R) Claremont Vice Mayor Jennifer Stark, Mayor Corey Calaycay, CGU Interim President Michelle Bligh, Scripps President Amy Marcus-Newhall, Harvey Mudd President Harriet Nembhard, Keck Graduate Institute President Mohamed Abousalem, Claremont Colleges Services CEO Stig Lanesskog, Pitzer President Strom Thacker, and Claremont McKenna College President Hiram Chodosh at CGU’s 100th anniversary tree planting on Tuesday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Tuesday’s celebration included a tree planting ceremony, a reading by 2025 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award winner Jaswinder Bolina, and the opening of its centennial exhibit, “100 Years of CGU.”

In addition to Bligh, others in attendance Tuesday included Claremont Colleges Services CEO Stig Lanesskog, Claremont Colleges university presidents (save Pomona College’s G. Gabrielle Starr), Claremont Mayor Corey Calaycay and Vice Mayor Jennifer Stark, alumni, and community members.

Mayor Corey Calaycay remarked that CGU festivities typically occur during his mayorship.

“What an honor it is this year to be mayor as the university is celebrating 100 years,” Calaycay told attendees. “And the other great thing, of course we’ve all heard this is the town of trees and Ph.D.s, so what better thing for a mayor to have the opportunity to plant a tree surrounded by Ph.D.s.”

“CGU Centennial Summit,” with activities, remarks and workshops, takes place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Garrison Theater, 231 E. 10th St, centennial community activities will be happening around town from 9 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a noon concert at Bridges Hall of Music,150 E. Fourth St. More info is at 100.cgu.edu.