Welcome back to another round of #CollegeFactsFriday! This week we are visiting the Peach State, Georgia. Just 3 miles away from Georgia’s state capitol Atlanta is Emory University, a private research liberal arts college.
1. Emory’s official mascot is Swoop the Eagle, but its unofficial mascot is Dooley the Skeleton, a dapper biology lab skeleton (completed with top hat and cane). Dooley first appeared on the Emory Oxford campus in 1899 and 1909, where he was seen perching in a science lab and writing letters to the student publication the Emory Pheonix.
2. Founded in 1836, Emory is the second oldest private higher education institute in Georgia (established just three years after Mercer University)
3. In 1841, Emory sent off its very first graduating class. The class size was three! Fast forward 180 years later, now the university has almost 2000 students in their first-year class.
4. The largest healthcare system in the state of Georgia is Emory Healthcare, part of Emory University.
5. Famous Emory alumni include Robert W. Woodruff (former president of The Coca-Cola Company), Thomas Milton Rivers (also known as the “Father of Modern Virology”), and Warrick Dunn (former NFL player).
6. Love song and dance? Songfest is a fun Emory tradition, in which first-year students from each residence hall perform an original song about their new home on campus! It’s a great way to meet your hallmates. Learn more about other wonderful first-year events.
7. The first PhD studied at Emory was Chemistry in 1948. Learn more about Emory’s history and traditions.
8. Another tradition is Wonderful Wednesday. It’s a weekly celebration happening on Wednesday afternoon where faculty, staff, students, and all members of the Emory community join in for food, fun, and themed events!
9. For three consecutive years, Emory has been recognized as the largest employer in Atlanta! Read the news here.
10. Want to learn more about Emory? Check out their undergrad admissions blog or follow them on social media (Twitter, Facebook, & Youtube)
