Have you ever wondered about the history behind our school’s founding? It all stems from our great founder, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American business magnate, born to a poor family in Staten Island, NY. Only having the equivalent of an elementary education, he amassed a great fortune from his involvement in the steamship and railroad industries during the 19th century. His enthusiastic leadership earned him the nickname “The Commodore,” which at the time was one of the highest rankings in the U.S. Navy. After a long and successful career, Commodore Vanderbilt retired and decided to pursue a career in philanthropy. This was when Nashville bishop Holland N. McTyeire convinced him to endow a university that would “contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country.” This would become one of the first of Vanderbilt’s charitable contributions, and for his generosity, the new school was named “Vanderbilt University” ...