SOMERS — Laughter and pride filled the University Ballroom at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday night as the school looked back on 40 years and talked of continued growth.

About 200 people attended the anniversary gala, which featured music, student art, dinner and dessert. The gala capped a week of events celebrating Chancellor Deborah L. Ford’s inauguration and Parkside’s founding 40 years ago.

The event also honored three women who were instrumental in Parkside’s founding: Fran Jaeschke, Rita Tallent Picken and Harriet Wyllie

“In the beginning, the three of us were there,” Jaeschke told the crowd. “We were there when there was nothing to Parkside except wishes, hopes, dreams and perhaps a good dish of motivation. That was all it was, and look at it now.”

Jaeschke was key in establishing the two-year university extension center at Washington Road and 39th Avenue (which eventually became Bradford High School) and then campaigned to bring Parkside to Kenosha.

Once the university opened, she became a student at Parkside, completing her degree in political science. She was honored as an outstanding graduate with the school’s second graduating class in 1971.

On Saturday night, Jaeschke praised Parkside’s quality teaching staff, its low teacher-to-student ratio, and the campus’ continued expansion, noting it has another 700 acres on which it can grow.

Picken was recognized for working with her husband, Bernard Tallent, to campaign for a permanent facility for the two-year extension center. Bernard Tallent died in 1965, just months before legislation for the new campus was passed. One of the buildings on campus bears his name.

Tallent Picken was unable to attend the gala, but her stepdaughter Kittie Picken accepted the honor on her behalf.

Kittie Picken told of the university’s beginnings through remarks her mother made in annual Christmas letters.

Picken also recalled how Rita and her husband said the university started in a spaghetti box, because that’s where she kept all of their important files.

“I’m sure many people who pass through Tallent Hall have no idea who Tallent is and maybe think that they’ve spelled it wrong,” Picken said. “That’s one reason why we have to have parties like this to remind us and show people why we are here. Institutions like this don’t grow out of the rich prairie soil without the people who make it happen.”

Wyllie, whose husband was Parkside’s first chancellor, Dr. Erwin Wyllie, was honored for her involvement and continued support over the 40 years. She also worked with architects and master planners to help design the campus, and another building campus bears the Wyllie name.