Special guests were Glen and Barbara Raque, who donated the sculpture, and the sculpture's creator, world-renowned Mexican artist, Leonardo Nierman. Glen is a 1969 Rose-Hulman graduate. The Raque's son, Rob, graduated from Rose-Hulman in 1999, the same year that his father received an honorary degree from the college.

"I believe the creativity exhibited in Nierman's design will serve to strengthen the creative spirit in Rose-Hulman students," said Raque, who is president of Raque Food Systems in Louisville, Ky.

The 7,000-pound sculpture, which was moved to campus in May, is surrounded by a reflecting pool. A Reflection Plaza Brick Walkway will be constructed around the reflecting pool upon the completion of a fund-raising project to sell bricks as a source of revenue to complete the walkway. Bricks can be created in honor of or in memory of individuals.

"Rose-Hulman is very fortunate that Glen and Barbara Raque have made it possible for us to receive such a world-class sculpture," stated Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert. "Rose-Hulman now joins some of the world's most well-known cities as the home of one of Leonardo Nierman's remarkable pieces of art," he said.

Upon seeing his sculpture on campus for the first time, Nierman remarked, "My love for academic institutions is enormous. For the Flame of the Millennium to be located in an academic setting is incredibly satisfying to me."

His abstract paintings, sculptures and tapestries have been exhibited in famous museums in Europe, the Middle East, North and South America. Nierman's works are collected by corporations, individuals and museums worldwide. His education in physics and mathematics at the University of Mexico and his study of the psychology of color and music have shaped his artistic style. Nierman has been honored as a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts in London, England, and has received awards from arts organizations in Italy, Monaco, Mexico and the United States.

The sculpture joins the college's art collections that total 1,500 pieces, according to Rose-Hulman Art Curator Matt McNichols. Campus collections include the 130-piece 19th century British Watercolor collection; the 100-piece Tri Kappa Art Collection of noted Indiana artists; and 600 original paintings by noted Terre Haute artist Omer “Salty" Seamon, who received an honorary degree from Rose-Hulman in 1979. McNichols said some of the most well-known artists in the campus collections include Ernest Blumenschein, Clifton Wheeler and C. Curry Bohn.