While walking to class Wednesday afternoon you may have noticed a large white tent, swarming with people and emitting the boom of music and speeches, plopped on the lawn in front of the Alexander Heard Library. Well, you stumbled upon the Kickoff Picnic, the event that marked the start of Vanderbilt School of Nursing's Centennial Celebration. The two-hour event spanned from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. on Aug. 27 and included free food, live music and prize drawings, and was hosted by Chancellor Nick Zeppos, Vice Chancellor Harry Jacobson and Dean Colleen Conway-Welch.

Betsey Usher, Centennial Coordinator, said she expected the event to attract roughly 4,000 visitors.

"I think a lot of people don't value what nurses do ... it is our year to make a big deal."

The year-long Centennial Celebration will include a lecture series, beginning on Sept. 18 with Lt. General Russel Honore, and a Gala on Oct. 23.

"The point of the celebration is to raise awareness that we exist and are a great school," said Usher.