Kennesaw State University hosts a special convocation ceremony October 16, 2003 to kick off a yearlong celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of its charter. In October 1963‚ the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the creation of a new institution‚ tentatively named Cobb County Junior College. Forty years and several name changes later‚ Kennesaw State University is a thriving institution of choice‚ one of the largest units in the university system and one of the top three publicly engaged universities in the nation. The theme of this anniversary year‚ “40 Years of Excellence: Daring to Dream and Do‚” captures the university spirit that has spanned four decades and continues today. Other celebrations of excellence this year will focus on core values that have made Kennesaw State a significant force in higher education: student success‚ internationalization‚ ethical leadership‚ civic engagement‚ academic excellence and research. Examples of these values will be highlighted through publications‚ special events and other university initiatives.