Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is celebrating 200 years of academic excellence, community, and tradition in 2025! As the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River, Centenary has a proud legacy of preparing students for meaningful lives and careers.

This Bicentennial year is a time to honor that legacy and look ahead. As part of the celebration, Centenary continues its work on Forward: The Campaign for Our Third Century—a comprehensive fundraising effort supporting scholarships, faculty excellence, and major campus improvements like the renovation of Mickle Hall and enhancements to the Hurley School of Music.

Join us in this once-in-a-generation celebration! Support Centenary during Give for Good and be part of shaping the next 200 years.

Learn more about our Bicentennial at centenary200.com and explore the Campaign at cclacampaign.com.

Quotes from Our Previous Bicentennial Events

"It was a great time celebrating Centenary’s 200th birthday. The event brought together local and state leaders, community supporters, and Centenary’s oldest living alumna. I’m excited for more Bicentennial events throughout 2025, and as an alumnus, it makes me proud to see the great things happening at the College." - David Henington '82

"It was such an honor to be part of the 200 year Birthday Party. Since arriving at Centenary in 1976 I have had a tremendous educational and social experience." - Versa Clark '79

"Tour de 1825 exceeded my expectations in every way! After our tour of the original site in Jackson, LA, Chris Brown made Centenary’s history come alive even more with his presentation and exercise using copies of archival documents. We were all drawn into finding important aspects of each document and sharing our discoveries with the group. After an afternoon of exploring Jackson, St. Francisville and environs, we reconvened at The Conundrum bookstore for wine and cheese, and  to learn about the work of the Centenary Press and its role in preserving early Louisiana literature from Dr. Dana Kress and Dr. Jeff Hendricks. One novel they published, Saint-Ybars, was written by Alfred Mercier, who had studied at Centenary in its early days!

For as much as we all learned and enjoyed about Centenary’s history, the true highlight of the trip was the group who gathered. Old friends and new friends – even some cousins! - all sharing the continued joys of learning and deepening our appreciation of our alma mater, along with plenty of good food and laughter. Truly a celebration that honored an occasion as auspicious as Centenary's Bicentennial!" - Lucie Thornton '79

"Designing the official Bicentennial poster (for the Bicentennial Art Stroll) was a special experience to me, especially since this is my first semester here. It meant a lot to contribute something small to such a historic moment. Centenary has marked a meaningful transition in my journey to reconnect with my essence: living in a more holistic way. I’m truly grateful to God, my family, and Centenary for this opportunity." - Edith Fernanda Baquedano Zavala '27