Can’t Hide the Pride Day, an annual celebration of our founders, incredible history and unique culture,fountain is March 20, 2015. To show your College of Charleston pride, throw on your best maroon gear and snap a selfie, then share it using #CantHideThePride for a chance to be shared on the College’s social media pages. Before you start slathering on body paint in anticipation, refresh your memory with 10 epic reasons you can’t hide the pride this Friday:

1. The College of Charleston was established before the United States was a country.

In 1770 to be exact. And five campus buildings are designated national historic landmarks.

Learn more about  the College at a glance.

2. Charleston isn’t just the top city in the nation according to Travel+Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler readers…

It is also a living laboratory for students. They’re in the center of a a growing tech corridor, thriving arts community and just blocks away from the Medical University of South Carolina.

3. Hollywood agrees, the College is a star in its own right.

Films including The Patriot (2000) starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, Cold Mountain (2003) starting Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, The Notebook (2004) starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and Dear John (2010) starting Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried shot scenes on campus.

CHTP 2015 - Collage 24. Alumni of the College are working at Buzzfeed, Google, the FBI, Metropolitan Museum of Art and more.

Check out what other alums are doing that will make you say “I want your job.”

5. We are BOUNDLESS

The College offers degree programs you won’t find anywhere else in the state in subjects like archaeologydata science, and computing in the arts. Its faculty members make unthinkable discoveries (like literally the largest structure. Ever. In the universe.), its students develop apps with millions of users and its reach truly knows no bounds.

Learn more about BOUNDLESS: The Campaign for the College of Charleston. 

6. The Honors College provides an unparalleled experience.

All Class of 2014 graduates completed original research projects, 85 percent completed internships, 80 percent received Latin Honors, and many graduated in three years.

7. Freshman can take courses like Viruses and the Coming Apocalypse and the Science of Secrecy as part of the First Year Experience (FYE).

Plus hundreds of first-year students studied abroad during spring break (that’s pretty remarkable).

8. USA Today named Charleston one of the nation’s top post-college cities.

It cited “a booming tech start-up economy and a thriving arts and restaurant scene. ”

9. Undergraduate students are performing graduate-level research alongside their professors, they’re working with cutting-edge technology like drones, and spending a week networking at Google.

10. The College of Charleston master’s program is the top producer of 2014-15 Fulbright Scholars in South Carolina.

And one of the top producers in the nation, sending master’s students and College faculty all over the world to pursue cutting-edge studies.