Rogers State Commemorates 100th Anniversary of First Day of Classes

Chris Howell NewsOn6.com

CLAREMORE---Today a commemorative celebration was held on the Claremont Elementary School grounds to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first day of class for Eastern University Preparatory School, which later became Rogers State University.

‘100 years ago today is where it all started,' said RSU President Larry Rice, ‘by the generosity of the Claremont public schools allowing us to have a classroom, no doubt one classroom was enough because the original classroom had 14 students, but the Claremore Public Schools was a partner and allowed us to have that one classroom to house the first class of Eastern University Preparatory School which was the original school that was destined to be up on the hill now for 100 years.'

From these humble beginnings the school has now grown into Roger State University with an enrollment of over 4,200 students.

An historical marker to that effect has been erected on the site by the Oklahoma Historical Society and was unveiled at the ceremony.