Illinois State University
01/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/28/2026 07:28
The Founding Celebration, February 19, 2026
Join us, as Illinois State University honors its founding with an annual Old Main Bell Ringing and Awards Ceremony.
Old Main Bell Ringing and Awards Ceremony - open to the public
- Thursday, February 19, 2026
- 10 a.m.
- Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center
The Founding Celebration honors Illinois State's founding on February 18, 1857, with events that celebrate the University's heritage and community. This tradition includes the ceremonial ringing of the replica Old Main Bell to mark each year of the University's existence and recognition of distinguished faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members. The celebration reinforces the University's legacy of academic excellence, service, and shared commitment to the Redbird community.
Additional Founding Celebration events will take place throughout the week. A full schedule and event details are available on the Founding Celebration website.
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in these events, please contact Presidential and Trustee Events at (309) 438-8790 or [email protected].
Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
Illinois State University published this content on January 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 28, 2026 at 13:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]