Then and Now: Founders Day
Founders Day traditions endure during the the annual celebration of the University's founding.
An annual celebration of the founding of Illinois State University began with the first Founders Day in 1909. The tradition grew in 1913 with a full slate of events to honor the University’s first president, Charles Hovey. The annual event was merged with convocation during the Great Depression and World War II, but it’s been a full-fledged celebration of the University’s founding since the 1950s, including when President Robert G. Bone rang the historic Old Main Bell at the centennial celebration in 1957. Traditions today include a faculty and staff appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony, and ringing of both the historic Old Main Bell and a replica that accommodates indoor bell ringing, as President Aondover Tarhule did in 2024.
Latest Publications
- Presidential Speaker Series returns this fall with AI pioneer Kevin Surace, November 4The Presidential Speaker Series returns this fall to feature the "Father" of the virtual assistant and AI innovator, Kevin Surace, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 7 p.m., in the Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center.
- Celebrating Excellence: The LOVE Award at Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University proudly presents the Living Our Values in Excellence (LOVE) Award, a monthly recognition celebrating individuals and groups who exemplify the University’s core values in their daily work. These values include Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. Whether
- Illinois State University launches new artificial intelligence lab for health research initiative with funding from National Institutes of HealthIllinois State University has launched an interdisciplinary PAIR project made possible through funding from the National Institutes of Health’s AIM-AHEAD PAIR seed program. The project is a collaboration between Illinois State’s School of Information Technology and Mennonite College of Nursing to use AI for early detection of Atrial Fibrillation.
- BN Innovation Hub takes another step forwardThe Bloomington-Normal Innovation Hub (BN Hub) took another step forward September 24 by officially launching its advisory board. The board is designed as a collaborative forum to foster innovation, cross-sector connection, and strategic alignment among institutions and organizations in the region with the express purpose of achieving the goals laid out in the BN Hub’s strategic plan.
- RISE Town Hall forums, October 22 and 23Join us for RISE Town Hall forums scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 10 a.m., in the Prairie Room, Bone Student Center. We will share updates regarding the new budgeting framework, process, and timeline, and answer questions.
- Nominations sought for Grabill-Homan Community Peace PrizeThe peace and conflict resolution studies program at Illinois State University is accepting nominations and self-nominations for the Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize, which is named for Joseph L. Grabill and the late Gerlof D. Homan, Illinois State University professors emeriti of history who helped establish the interdisciplinary Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Program.
