Exploring Southeastern’s Story

An array of videos, publications, and digital content is bringing the university’s remarkable 100-year history and course for the future to life. Produced by University Marketing and Communications, these new features offer alumni, students, and the entire community an avenue for reflecting on the past while embracing the future.

One of the core releases is Southeastern 100, a full-length documentary chronicling the university’s journey from its humble beginnings in 1925 as Hammond Junior College to its status today as a thriving center of academic excellence and community impact. Premiering in September at the Columbia Theatre, this documentary artfully highlights pivotal moments, enduring traditions, inspiring personal stories, and lasting impacts. It’s a vivid portrait of Southeastern’s resilience, growth, and the deep connections it creates—amongst all who are a part of it and with the communities it serves.

Accompanying the documentary are monthly mini video releases, including a series focusing on a specific aspect of Southeastern’s past and future in each episode. These 15 bite-sized stories explore everything from the university’s founding to athletics and campus architecture. In addition to these monthly releases are Golden Alumni spotlights, which showcase tales from those who graduated during the beginning half of Southeastern’s first century.

Rounding out the video productions, in addition to singular Centennial promotional shorts, is a visually engaging scrolling timeline. This timeline takes viewers on a linear journey through 100 years of Southeastern with photos and sound effects driving the path forward.

Available on the Centennial website and YouTube, these videos provide accessible ways to connect with Southeastern’s rich history.

Along with video, three commemorative publications, in addition to this magazine, have been created stretching genres and purposes. The Centennial Activity Book, which will be released this fall, offers puzzles and coloring pages that are perfect for relaxing and unwinding while reflecting on time spent under the shady oaks. A visually compelling book titled The Presidents of Southeastern, coming this August, honors the visionary leaders who have guided Southeastern over the past century, detailing their contributions and how they shaped the university into what it is today.

The Southeastern 100 history book provides a comprehensive narrative exploration of Southeastern’s milestones, achievements, and community impact, making it a must-have keepsake for alumni, students, and friends of the university. This book, which is scheduled to be published in late 2025, pulls largely from the university’s revered 75th anniversary history book, added onto and retooled to reflect where Southeastern is today. Stay tuned for more details to reserve your copy.

In addition to video and print, the Centennial Monthly digital publication was launched in October 2024, providing current news on and more ways to stay connected to all things Southeastern Centennial.

For those eager to immerse themselves further, Southeastern has launched a dedicated website, southeastern.edu/100, which serves as the Centennial’s digital hub. The site features a timeline that traces Southeastern’s evolution over the decades. Visitors can also download released publications—including the Centennial Activity Book, find free digital backgrounds, explore a calendar of Centennial events, watch
the monthly video stories, log their hours for the Volunteerism Campaign, browse a list of Centennial Selections restaurants, and give to the “Get There Together” fundraising campaign.

Together, these initiatives not only honor Southeastern’s rich history, but also celebrate its enduring traditions, the strength of its community, and the vision for its future. The Centennial isn’t just a look back—it’s an invitation to dream forward, to consider how Southeastern will continue to impact lives and communities for the next 100 years.

Whether attending a showing of Southeastern 100, exploring the Centennial website, or diving into the rich stories in the Southeastern 100 book, these items provide meaningful ways to connect with Southeastern’s incredible journey.