At a recent formal celebration of Trinity College’s past, the focus was very much on the future.

On Saturday, May 11, Trinity deepened its commitment to the city that its founders selected 200 years ago by raising funds for scholarships for Hartford students to establish the Bicentennial Hartford Scholarship.

Capping off a year of events honoring Trinity’s 200th anniversary, the Bicentennial Gala brought together more than 750 faculty, staff, students, alumni, elected officials, and other local leaders at the Connecticut Convention Center. The evening included live and silent auctions, dinner, and dancing to the live music of Plena Libre.

Emmy Award-winning local television journalists Dennis House and Kara Sundlun hosted the ceremony that included remarks by Trinity President Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Senator Richard Blumenthal with a special video message from Senator Chris Murphy. The connection between the city and prestigious liberal arts college was illustrated through the stories of alumni representing several generations of Hartford natives and a current student from the city.