Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / GATA celebrates 100th birthday
Flames yelling "G-A-T-A want to be a GATA," at their after chapel meeting. (Photo by Nicholas Cromwell)

GATA celebrates 100th birthday

January 31, 2020 by Alyssia Anuat

GATA members kicked off their 100th birthday celebration on Jan. 16 in The Campus Center after Chapel, handing out red velvet bundtinis.  

The women of GATA celebrated their centennial with a singing of happy birthday around the GATA fountain and a dance party in the campus center. 

According to “The Women of GATA” website, the group was established on Friday, Jan. 16, 1920 and was started by a handful of friends as Girls Aid to Athletics, making it the oldest club on campus. Since its inception, GATA has donated the GATA garden, a diamond-shaped garden on the lawn of the administration building, and the GATA fountain to the university. 

The GATA president for this year is Bailey Baker, a senior kinesiology major from Abilene.

“Thinking about our history, I think back to our very first President, Vera Ray Boone, and how the simple idea of supporting athletics sparked something even bigger than she probably could have ever imagined,” Baker said. “Something that started with 8 girls has grown and changed over time, but GATA will always be the same place for people to come and feel safe.” 

Lauren Gumm, a sophomore GATA member from Abilene, helped arrange the festivities by helping with set up and tear down of the event and taking photos throughout.

“When girls choose to pledge GATA, they are choosing to become a part of a rich legacy here on campus,” Gumm said.

For their anniversary, GATA wanted to invite everyone to join in the celebration.

“I believe we all felt so much excitement getting to celebrate in the way that we did,” Baker said. “Watching this club transition pledge classes is such a meaningful and unforgettable experience. It gives me hope that we will be on this campus for another 100 years.”

 

Filed Under: News, Showcase

Other News:

  • Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Zooms in with Lynay students

  • ACE Sushi arrives to campus for additional dining option

  • 1 in 3 undergraduates did not fulfill fall Chapel requirements

Avatar

About Alyssia Anuat

My name is Alyssia Anuat and I am a third-year student at Abilene Christian University. I play for the university’s women's soccer team and I am a Journalism major with a minor in business.

You are here: Home / News / GATA celebrates 100th birthday

Other News:

  • Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Zooms in with Lynay students

  • ACE Sushi arrives to campus for additional dining option

  • 1 in 3 undergraduates did not fulfill fall Chapel requirements

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
24h

ACU reported its lowest number of active COVID-19 cases during in-person instruction since Nov. 2 with 18 cases Friday. Quarantines also continue to decrease at 52.

Reply on Twitter 1352719807297298432Retweet on Twitter 13527198072972984321Like on Twitter 135271980729729843213Twitter 1352719807297298432
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
22 Jan

Ace Sushi opened Monday in the former Breakfast Co. space to offer students an additional dining option. Read more below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/ace-sushi-arrives-to-campus-for-additional-dining-option/

Reply on Twitter 1352695944081498119Retweet on Twitter 1352695944081498119Like on Twitter 1352695944081498119Twitter 1352695944081498119

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

24 hours ago

The Optimist
ACU reported its lowest number of active COVID-19 cases during in-person instruction since Nov. 2. Quarantines also continue to decrease at 52. ...

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 day ago

The Optimist
Ace Sushi opened Monday in the former Breakfast Co. space to offer students an additional dining option. Read more below: ...

ACE Sushi arrives to campus for additional dining option - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

A new sushi company with a unique test will open this Monday, January 25th. New Su
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Praise Day Fridays return to campus

Video by Allie Jones. https://youtu.be/4F0D1oNzGjM   ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast – Nov. 5, 2020
  • ACUTV, Optimist preparing for live election show
  • Earliest snowfall recorded in Abilene

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved