The 125th anniversary of the state's oldest public institution of higher education will be celebrated April 20 with an equal number of cakes including one in the shape of Old Main, the first University of Colorado building, which was completed in April 1876.
The celebration will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on CU-Boulder's historic Norlin Quadrangle, bordered by eight of the university's oldest buildings.
An estimated 4,000 guests are expected to attend the 125th anniversary celebration. The public is invited to attend.
Seating for the ceremony will be available for approximately 1,500 guests on the quadrangle facing the west entrance to Norlin Library.
Guests will arrive to the music of a CU jazz combo directed by music Professor John "Chip" Stevens, to be followed by the ringing of the Carillon bells by CU student Brian Dickinson.
The formal program will begin with the National Anthem performed by the College of Music's University Singers and conducted by Professor Joan Catoni Conlon. The University Singers will perform various songs throughout the program, among them an arrangement of "Rocky Mountain High" by CU student Timothy Snyder and "America the Beautiful."
Speakers will include CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny presenting historical highlights of the university, its progress and its prospects for the future. Byyny's talk will be followed by remarks from CU President Elizabeth Hoffman and Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers.
Jerry Rutledge, chair of the Board of Regents, will read a proclamation declaring the official beginning of a year of celebrating CU's 125 years of achievement.
Other members of the platform party will include John DeLauro, CU Foundation chair; Professor Frank Beer, chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly; student John Moore, a tri-executive of the University of Colorado Student Union; Larry Drees, chair of the CU-Boulder Staff Council; and Jim Williams, dean of libraries at CU-Boulder. Williams will be the master of ceremonies.
The regents' proclamation will be followed by the simultaneous cutting by 125 honorary cutters of 125 anniversary cakes, including the cake replica of Old Main. The VIP cake cutters will include legislators, current and former regents, distinguished alumni and former chancellors and presidents.
Following the cake cutting, the CU Marching Band will perform "Glory, Glory Colorado," the CU fight song and the alma mater, with the University Singers joining the band on the alma mater. The College of Music's CU African Ensemble will perform "Highlife" music from Ghana while guests eat and mingle on the quadrangle.
Guests are encouraged to carpool to the anniversary celebration if possible. Limited parking will be available along University Avenue and on 13th and 15th streets, Grandview Avenue and Franklin Field.