Posted April 3, 2009

Paint the Town Cherry Week to celebrate Temple pride

From the Philadelphia skyline to a YouTube video contest, Owl spirit will be on display in May.

Between May 11 and 17, the Philadelphia skyline will light up in Temple cherry for Paint the Town Cherry Week, part of the university’s ongoing 125th anniversary celebration. City landmarks including the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Cira Centre, Liberty Place and Boathouse Row will adopt a Temple glow, and special Temple flags commemorating the anniversary will appear in Center City — all signifying Temple’s vital presence, traditions and pride.

The university community is encouraged to wear cherry and white throughout the week, and particularly on Commencement day, May 14 — Paint the Town Cherry Day. Those who forget to wear their Temple colors can visit myowlspace.com/cherryweek to download and print signs and buttons as additional ways to show their spirit.

Another way to take part in the festivities is the “I’m a Temple Owl” video contest on Temple’s YouTube channel. Through May 3, students, alumni, faculty, staff and other Owls can submit a video of up to two minutes demonstrating their Temple pride. Six winning videos will be selected for prizes that include a Flip MinoHD digital camcorder and promotion of the best videos on 6abc.com.

Photo courtesy Stan Horwitz

The Cira Centre, on the west shore of the Schuylkill River, is one of several Philadelphia landmarks that will be lit with Temple colors during Paint the Town Cherry Week, May 11–17.

Related Links

Paint the Town Cherry week will begin with the May 11 announcement of the winning “I’m a Temple Owl” videos, continue with a vibrant display of Temple cherry throughout Philadelphia, and conclude with Alumni Weekend 2009. Held May 15-17, Alumni Weekend features campus tours, Temple experts’ takes on current issues, jazz in the Ambler formal garden and more, as well as the 125th anniversary-themed Founder’s Celebration gala, open to the entire university community.

A proud tradition

Temple University makes a powerful impact on the city of Philadelphia and around the world. Beginning in January, a commemorative ad campaign has touted many of the ways that students, faculty, staff and alumni make a meaningful difference locally and internationally. The “Get the Facts” campaign, based on 125 facts about Temple’s past and present, appears on billboards; SEPTA trains, platforms and buses; and magazines and newspapers.

Each week, new facts about the university are revealed at www.temple125years.com, which also includes a timeline and opportunities for the Temple community to post photos and memories. A few facts:

Fact #2: 1 in 8 Greater Philadelphia college graduates holds a Temple degree.

Fact #27: Temple generates $2.7 billion for the Delaware Valley each year.

Fact #58: Temple is the third largest private employer in the city of Philadelphia.

Fact #82: Graphic arts and design students at the Tyler School of Art designed the famous Temple “T” in 1983.

Fact #83: Temple was the first university in the nation to adopt the owl as its mascot, signifying its beginning as a night school.

Help Paint the Town Cherry

Learn more about Paint the Town Cherry Week, download a 125th anniversary sign and find out how to enter the “I’m a Temple Owl” video contest by visiting myowlspace.com/cherryweek. If you have questions, email owlspace@temple.edu.

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