Marist College Celebrates Name Change on University Day
Valincia Hill '26 standing next to the newly unveiled Marist University logo that she helped designed during the spring semester with fellow classmates. Photo by Lizzie Baumgardner '25
3… 2… 1.
Confetti fell from the upper floors of the Dyson Center as a new eight-foot statue showcasing Marist’s new logo was revealed.
At 11:24 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Marist College was no more. The name change, after a long, strenuous path, finally became official.
“The energy in Dyson was remarkable, and while I expected a jubilant celebration, that day exceeded my wildest expectations,” President Kevin Weinman told the Marist Circle. “When the countdown hit zero, I was overcome with a sense of awe about what Marist has become today from humble origins and what it can still yet become in the future.”
The confetti caked the floor of the atrium in the jam-packed Dyson Center as hundreds of Marist students, staff and alumni alike took in the first moments of the new university – all while over 3,000 people tuned in online.
“We kept coming up with ideas like, ‘What would be fun for students?” said Daryl Richard ‘97, vice president of communications and marketing.“We didn't want it to be a day full of just speeches and nothing else, hence the confetti, the giant logo, the commercial and patching in Dublin and Florence, which I thought was really cool.”
Joining the large crowd in attendance were two separate viewing parties: one in Florence, Italy, featuring over a hundred students studying abroad, and the other in Dublin, Ireland, with a group of first-year students.
“It was definitely a really cool way to feel connected to this celebration and to Marist even though we are abroad,” said Cora Flynn ‘26, a student studying in Florence.
Taking place during activity hours, students and staff set up interactive tables on the second and third floors. Featuring new merchandise and displays, various on-campus organizations aimed to show off the new logo bearing the name Marist University.
The Marist Poll, one of the most notable organizations at Marist, hopes the name change will bring more national and international recognition.
Additionally, the Marist band, cheer and dance teams welcomed attendants throughout the event with school spirit, creating a similar atmosphere to that of a Marist Athletics event.
“It was amazing because it was such a monumental part of Marist history,” said Abigail Hartman ‘28, a member of Marist’s Dance Team. “It was really cool to see the whole school come together; it really felt like we were a community.”
Not only was this day important to current students, but many alumni who are still active members of the Marist community and the Board of Trustees joined in for the celebration.
“To be back here in this role is so special, and to be able to host a day like this is incredible,” said Richard.
The celebration extended off campus and into the night as the Mid-Hudson Bridge lit up in red and white colors to honor Marist University.
“But, as Marist University, with all the momentum that we have built over time, we’re poised for great things,” said Weinman. “I hope everyone is excited for the future, even as we celebrate all that has happened to get us here.”