It’s not every day that an institution turns 100 years old. So, the Columbia-area news media outlets made their way to the Columbia International University campus to report on CIU’s colorful parade of flags down on International Boulevard, the entrance to the CIU campus. The flags represent the 160 nations where CIU’s 24,000 alumni minister and work, and some represent the home countries of current CIU students.

The parade ended at Shortess Chapel signaling the opening sessions of CIU’s Future of Global Mission Conference, the first in a series of yearlong anniversary events.

Nate Stanley of News 19 WLTX not only reported on the parade, but also interviewed a number of people on campus, as well as a couple of people from the neighborhood. See his report.

Lee Williams of ABC Columbia, WOLO even caught up with a longtime member of the CIU Board of Trustees in this report.

Alexia Bolin of the online newspaper Cola Daily was on hand and recorded an interview, not only with CIU President Dr. Mark Smith, but also First Lady Debbie Smith. Watch Bolin’s multimedia report.

Congratulations also came in tweets from Dawndy Mercer Plank, news anchor at News 10 WIS TV, and from Jeff Perez, the president South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) who rode in the parade.

Find out more about CIU’s 100^th anniversary calendar at ciu.edu/100.

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ." The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.