Gateway to Service

Takoma Park, MD (May 28, 2019) There is a remarkable monument centered on the main walkway into Washington Adventist University’s (WAU) Commons. Whether on our way to classes or simply taking a walk through campus, we have all seen the “Gateway to Service” arch.

From its creation in 1904, when it was first known as Washington Training College, WAU has served as a vessel for providing excellent opportunities for students to learn and prepare for the outside world. Established as a coeducational institution with the purpose to train young men and women in the liberal arts, this institution embodied the emblem of “Gateway to Service.”

Surprisingly enough, the arch that we see today was not always a part of the college. In 1916, two years after the college’s unanimous decision to change from Washington Foreign Missionary Seminary to Washington Missionary College, the first documented use of the phrase “Gateway to Service” is recorded. There was still no arch, but, there was an actual gate called the “Gateway.” It wasn’t until 37 years later that the class of 1953 decided to donate an arch to be placed on top of the gateway as a class gift, officially creating a physical “Gateway to Service.”

In 1970, however, a devastating fire broke out on campus, burning down the Columbia Hall and the brick pillars of the arch, which were originally next to it. The arch was put into storage and stayed there until the class of 1977 decided to restore it and installed new brick pillars where it is now found in the middle of the Commons. Now it stands 42 years strong, through wear and tear and every trial the university has faced since then.

From the moment I walked into the university as a freshman three years ago, until today, “Gateway to Service” has always been central to my experience on the WAU campus. This archway represents a student’s journey throughout their time in the halls of WAU and long after. It serves as the official logo of our university, and I hope that it will also serve as more than a mere physical representation. So, whenever you feel lost or worried about a particularly trying course, take the time to walk through the Commons and let the archway inspire you to look towards the finish line and your own future endeavors in service for others.

By Shannon Smith
Intern, Integrated Marketing and Communications

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