TAHLEQUAH — The Northeastern State University Centennial Countdown will launch at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 with a community picnic at Beta Field. The community picnic and Centennial Countdown launch will also provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and members of the community to meet NSU President Dr. Don Betz and his wife Susanne.

Free food will be available, and participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the evening. Rowdy the RiverHawk will also be handing out free Centennial T-shirts.

“The community picnic is an exciting way for NSU to welcome students back for the school year, and begin the countdown to our Centennial Celebration,” said Amber Fite, NSU general counsel, assistant to the president, and chair of the picnic committee. “The night is packed with entertainment, events, food, demonstrations and games that showcase the university’s heritage and are fun for everyone.”

Betz, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy, and NSU Alumnus Jay Hannah will conduct a short program at 6:30 p.m., before starting the Centennial Countdown Clock.

Oklahoma country band South 40 will provide entertainment starting at 7 p.m.

The Indian University Scholar’s Society, Native American Student Association and American Indian Science and Engineering Society will be painting RiverHawks tattoos.

The Cherokee Nation will be demonstrating basket weaving, pottery spinning, and how to make stickballs and cornstalk dolls. A storyteller will be set up to share tradition Cherokee tales, and the “History on Main Street” Project will have a historic photo display and information on the project.

Volunteers from the Murrell home will be dressed as people from the 1850s, 1909 and other historic dates in NSU’s history. They will demonstrate cloth spinning and weaving, and “Games of Grace,” or games that taught young ladies how to be graceful.

The Centennial Countdown was designated to increase awareness and excitement for the NSU Centennial Celebration, which officially launches on March 6, 2009, also known as Founders Day. The date marks the 100th anniversary of the Oklahoma legislature authorizing the purchase of Seminary Hall and the surrounding land from the Cherokee Nation to create Northeastern State Normal School.

The Centennial Countdown and Centennial Celebration include a number of events, reunions and projects to commemorate this milestone in the institution’s history. Visit www.nsuok.edu/centennial for more information and a complete schedule of events.